Woman be bag lady
since time began
Rooved or roofless
We
hear danger with Our eyes and ears
move sand in the hourglass
smooth fears
weave dreams sweet sandmen
sprinkle into darkness
embroider deep stories for pillows
(cotton, concrete or knees)
feed hunger at Our breasts
between births and deaths.
Busy enough, for sure, to leave
futures in His hands
nevertheless
We stand up
to unravel
to rule
to build
to teach
to spin
since We are She
for whom all wait and
hope will fix
the broken toys of Mother Earth.
We dig to bag bottom
for tools to ease
pain from misrule
and epidemic disease.
Posted for Kerry's The Last Mixed Bag at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads and for Kim's Verse First ~ Women! at Poets United. Written as a sonnet, I re-formed "Bag of Fortune" for en-chant-ment. I filed this, finally, in Poetry Pantry # 142.
Copyright © 2013 S.L.Chast
Chosen for my book 11/5/2013
Chosen for my book 11/5/2013
Very nice, Susan. I like what is in your bag. Indeed women do dig to the bottom for their tools, of which they have many!
ReplyDeleteI also liked the contents of your bag-heart.
ReplyDeletePowerful poem, Susan... I especially like the second stanza.
ReplyDeleteSusan, this is one of my very favourite of your poems. It resonates with poetic voice, reminiscent of Angelou, but all you own. This is top drawer poetry.
ReplyDeletenice susan...som ereally cool touches along the way...moving the sand in the hourglass...you really build it well in the second and third stanzas as you build all the ways a woman impacts her family and society...ah i hope you find in your bag a solution, you know...smiles.
ReplyDeleteFabulous, Susan. Women in control! A powerful (as Laurie said) response to the prompt.
ReplyDeleteK
What a wonderful and powerful write. Woman Power. "To fix the broken toys of earth". Yes!
ReplyDeleteI have to completely agree with Kerry's comment. This is exceptional!
ReplyDeleteSusan you have so much heart in this bag! I love it~
ReplyDelete:D
from birth to death.
ReplyDeleteWe are mothers whether we birth offspring or not...and yes it is from birth to death. Fantastic write!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful write ---I have to echo the above and don't know that my comment adds much to the mix--just fabulous!
ReplyDeleteVery thought-provoking.
ReplyDeletenice take on the prompt.lovely write.
ReplyDeleteInspiring words as I imagine my daughter growing into womanhood with all its huge potential.
ReplyDeleteWOW, Susan! This one is packed with images of women's work and roles. Everywoman can relate to one part or another, if not every single line. We are the power gender, world changer, soul tender.
ReplyDeleteAn exceptional poem! So inspirational to women and love the line, "to fix the broken toys of earth."
ReplyDelete