Woman
While this poem reflects themes of womanhood, they are universal themes that affect all genders. In my therapeutic practice, I work with women and men around many of the experiences of identity, loss, growth and self-actualisation expressed here.
In my lifetime,
I've been scorned,
betrayed,
Broken hearted.
Cried tears I thought would never end.
I’ve loved and felt rage all in one breath.
Been oppressed, held down, silenced.
And I've fought like a she-cat to be uncaged.
I’ve danced wildly in the woods.
Howled in the wind.
Stood on the sand and screamed into a raging sea
Till the waves rolled up beside me.
I've succeeded miraculously.
Failed spectacularly.
Wandered aimless, confused,
Gone in circles,
And found myself back in the same place.
I've Conformed,
Then rebelled.
Been timid, afraid, small,
But found the courage to
Laugh at can’t, mustn't and shouldn’t,
And did it my way anyway.
Then I've mounted my steed
And ridden into the horizon with the wind behind me.
In my lifetime I've forgotten myself
And then remembered.
She who thought she was nothing
Woke up to discover she was everything.
I've stepped into darkness and found light.
Been afraid of shadows,
Then looked closely at the sillhouette
And discovered I knew her.
Opened the door.
Welcomed and embraced her.
Took off her coat of muted shades
To find luminous colour.
Ruffled her skin.
Soothed her.
Reclaimed her.
And as one,
We became Woman.
She who is beauty,
Passion, joy, love, creativity.
In the eternal eye of
The Seer,
The Redeemer,
The Knower.
She Is!
All Woman.
[Paula]
