March 8 is International Women's Day and the entire month of March is International Women's History month. The center of interest for 2024 is "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" - the focus is making determined efforts to eliminate economic disempowerment and progress toward an effectual and influential crusade to "inspire inclusion", which is the theme for this auspicious and global observance.
We offered writers in our Facebook group, three prompts to choose from, the first prompt: "Celebrating Strength" and resilience of women in the face of adversity, the second prompt, "Sisterhood", honoring the bonds of support, however, it did not receive a response and the third challenged poets to write about the "Unsung She-Roes", recognizing often overlooked or recognized contributions of women in various roles, whether helping in the workforce, or at home, or in volunteer, or as an advocate or in the fields of war and conflict.
Although one from each entry was to be chosen, we feature 13 magnificently inclusive poems from poets of different backgrounds, both men and women and their compassionate, steadfast poetic thoughts honoring the prowess of women even during times of experiences, determination, empowerment, survival and struggle.
"THE WOMAN THAT I AM"
The Woman I see
Is the Woman I am
(Mirrors do not lie.)
Cosmetics do when aptly applied
But not these nerves deny.
Age is just a factor,
Like Depth, Breadth, or even Height,
But the Woman who fights
The odds - is, and will be...I.
The Woman I see
Is the Woman I am.
Bravely struggling, even laughing,
Crying over the years
Yet, gracefully so, is aging.
The Woman I see is now me.
She has come a long, long way
From that child, they once knew,
From that girl, I saw
On that truthful mirror long ago.
© MARIA EVELYN QUILLA SOLETA
Philippines
"FURY AND FLAME"
In the gorge where the twin rivers meet
Fury and flame got caught up in the mirage of her soul
Bloodthirsty, at the tomb of the fallen gods
Divine mercy of novena,
She's awakened from slumbers of the forgotten
Eyes of a serpent Eophis
The air has made the silky hair kiss her face
Gliding through with mare of Absolom
'Ride with me, Andalusia, for the might and power are in you'
Adorn with vengeance, bow and sword
A heavenly phenomenal, not less than heaven.
© SHEILA ANN
Malaysia
"STRENGTH"
Nana Byrne
Lost her mother
Aged eleven
Shipped off to Sheffield
Soon after
Back in Dublin she met
James Byrne
She had thirteen children
Four were miscarriages
Three were cot deaths
Her eldest daughter died
Aged seventeen
Her only sibling died young
Nana had many illnesses
During her life
In her sixties
She became a widow
Lost her sight
Her home
She still loved to sing
What gave her strength
Her unwavering faith in God.
© BERNADETTE O' REILLY
Dublin, Ireland
"A WOMAN WITH THOUSAND IDENTITY"
From Adam's ribs, she was taken
Formed with undeniable beauty
Embedded with abundant strength
A heart as big as the universe
Wider than the ocean of understanding
Her wisdom emanates from her face
Burning and glowing
Like a candle in the dark.
Her amazing hands are peculiar,
rough and calloused.
It can cure sickness with her touch
And soothe the weary heart of a child.
Her gentle stroke at night
Can bring you to a slumber and dream
Only with her hands, you can trust
Your crying heart is in pain.
Her steadfastness knows no boundaries
It encompasses every soul in her life
Leaving herself oblivious, unbothered
Forgetting every inch of her beauty.
She is the mirror of every strength
A reflection of stamina and grace
A backbone of every weakness
A strength of everyone's failure.
She is the shield of every storm
A blanket of comfort
An angel in disguise
She is your laughter
A clown in your heart
An armor in every war
Peacemaker in every fight
She is the woman of thousand identity.
© DOLO REZ
Philippines
"WOE MAN"
A modern soul in an old-world gaze
A woman navigating life's complex maze
Tech-savvy mind, digital native graces
Balancing tradition and fast-paced races.
She tweets her thoughts, lives in podcast
Coherence of time and memories that last
In the digital age, she's a vintage soul
An age-old charm in a modern role.
She wears stardust in her digital face
But craves the warmth of antique embrace.
Her playlist echoes old tunes so sweet
In a modern world, her heart finds its beat.
Smartphones in hand and word she sends
A modern woman, her prowess transcends
In pixels and pages, her advocacy unfold
A modern spirit with an old soul's hold.
In the face of storms, women stand tall
Brave spirits, they never fall
Through adversity and trials they stride
A strength within that can't be denied.
Dance with grace through life's tempest
Facing challenges with heart that jest
Clothed by courage like a fierce flame
In every setback she found no shame.
With wisdom's touch she navigates
Through the darkest hours she illuminates
A tapestry of resilience she weaves
Unbowed like the ocean's constant heave.
So here's to the women, bold and free,
An ode to their enduring, boundless beauty
An inclusion to a timeless song
Like a distant music that echoes along.
© FLOYD GALE CABUS
Philippines
"WHO I AM!"
When I wear jeans
I am called wanderer
And wearing scarf -
Club me backward!
Who am I
I talk to some stranger
And they think it's my crudity;
And offering prayers
Club me narrowminded !
Who am I
When I laugh openly
It reflects my selfishness
And caged inside
Among the sighs and sobs
Earns me the lady of manner!
I exhort from one and all
Monsters -
Who make me suspicious in my own eyes
And for others
Why should I bother to know
Who actually I am!
© AASIA MAJEED
Pakistan
"UNTITLED"
The Palestinian women day
is screaming in night of Gaza.
The mothers are crying every day.
Here, every day is going to rain the game of death.
We are celebrating the woman day.
Innocent children are shy.
We are celebrating the woman day.
The children, like women and flowers are scared every day.
We are celebrating the woman day.
From what hearts, I say, my lovely mother
congratulated you on a woman day.
We are celebrating the woman day.
© IMRAN KASHMIRI
Pakistan
"I WILL RISE AGAIN"
In the face of adversity, I will rise again,
By strength and grace, God will heal my pain.
Never giving up on challenges is my slogan,
I will break all the barriers, I'm a brave woman!
I will move forward with passion and courage,
I won't care about the things that discourage,
God will pave my way as a guide to progress,
One day I will surely climb the ladder of success!
My dreams give me a spark to touch the sky,
To achieve my life's purpose, I will always try,
I will always stand firm in the face of difficulties,
For me, God will open doors to new opportunities!
No matter how many storms come to divert me,
They can't stop me from writing a success story!
© DEEPTI SHAKYA
India
"UNSUNG SHE'ROES"
A nervous teenaged girl became a
Powerful homemaker and also
a teacher to supply her miserable
family, who never supported her!
An insecure victim of molestation
stood up for herself to become a
nurse and educated her only child
without her husband's support!
A time and uneducated lady who
was abandoned by her children
is happily living a splendid life at
old age home with her new friends!
A meek and nervous woman in her 50's
came to the streets due to her drunkard
and jobless husband but managed to
reach the shore with her children, boldly!
A humble mother with her modest knowledge
became a fearless chef to support her kids
and shared few morsels of food with
people just like her, struggling to keep up!
Women are born to be warriors who march
fearlessly with a daring passion towards
their determination, undoubtedly, to prove
that she's forgiving and loving as a Mother Earth!!
© SONAL RAO
India
"REFLECTION"
I look into the mirror and see...
a woman with wings to fly and soar high,
a wife who has expectations like the sky,
a daughter who is a ticket to paradise,
a mother who is ocean of loyalty and sacrifice,
a sister who stands by you without even asking,
a worker adept at multitasking.
© RAFIYA SAYEED
Jammu and Kashmir, India
"ABOUT THEM"
They are heroes
As well as men
Having a strong resilience
In being Mothers, Wives,
Pilots, Firefighters, Doctors
Or even being soldiers.
They are sensitive but also powerful
Never saying no to challenges
They can prove that no matter
What sex we have
We can still be great
And we can prove solidarity.
Facing danger needs courage
And humanity towards people.
Cheers to them!
High heels and a good punch work together!
© BOGDANA GAGEANU
Romania
"HEROINE OF JIU"
(Poem dedicated to Ecaterina Teodoroiu - 1)
Fearless as a lioness,
Strong as a she-wolf,
You encouraged the soldiers
To protect their Country from enemies.
Despite the war wounds,
You return to the battlefield
More determined than ever
To carry on the mission
To protect the Holy Garden
Until you were stabbed
By the cruel fate.
Many years passed since then,
But your big heart of gold is still beating,
Your heroic sacrifice, your noble deeds
Are proofs of the intelligent strong woman.
© GHEORGHE LAURA
Romania
Notes:
1 - Ecaterina Teodoroiu (January 15, 1894 - September 3, 1917) was a Romanian woman who fought on the front and died in World War I. She's regarded as a heroine of Romania.
Source: (Wikipedia)
"I AM A WOMAN"
I am a woman with flesh and blood
not made for your extreme lust
I have emotions, I have dreams
O would it be that you don't forget
that I am also a human just as you
If only my purpose in life
if only my role in the society
had you realized!
Desires of thirsty eyes
Parched due to the tears of blood
O would it be that you don't forget
Much do I suffer, I am a woman
a human, just as you.
A graveyard this world would be
without me, do not crush me to death
Walking skeletons you would be
Quest for my soul, so pure
Why, o why you ignore!
Let us both live and love
try to win my heart, my core
that is my real grace
would it be that you are
virtuous and sincere
since I am a woman
with flesh and blood.
© AASIA MAJEED
Pakistan