Aaargh! This excruciating pain gnaws at me again
I need to prove I’m not an ovary, not a uterus
I’m more than the sum of my body parts
And that rascal who said, “For whom do you dress or undress?”
did not know I would explode under duress
in different ways, in diverse streams
to become a goddess, wear talent, and fame
Beyond the reach of your dirty paws
I will blossom into a million iron flowers
When flower power catches you unaware
you’ll respect individuals; not gender roles
If you think from tradition; it’s your limitation
it’s not transgression for me, just evolution
into all that I was meant to be
artist, scientist, writer, or just me
flick channels; the female athlete you see
crossed physical boundaries to excel in glee
You turned parochial to protect territory
Chauvinist … Are you born aggressive
or just afraid of me?
Creative Experiments and More 
Agressive, afraid, weak, limited and no awareness or appreciation…wonderful verse there, but terrible you must deal with this.
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Thank you!
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I’d hazard a guess he’s afraid! Surely only insecurity causes such chauvinism … or hatred, and yet the spirit of the poem’s persona seems to be made stronger by it, not wilting but blossoming “into a million iron flowers.” Gorgeous.
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Thanks a ton, Dora!
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Given that – far from being created from Adam’s rib, it is men who set out in the womb as female by construction, and only modify into males as gestation moves along, and if it wasn’t for the advantages of sexual reproduction, there would be no need for men at all! However, the genders have their differences, though far more overlap than is often credited and so we must as Björn says, work together, in complementarity…
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Thank you for the validation, Frewin! I recall a contest for writing 5 words to put off a potential date. The winning entry was “I am not a feminist.”
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I say afraid of us!! Still trying to figure out how to handle the power of a woman. A powerful poem, Reena. Very nicely done.
Pat
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Thank you so much, Pat!
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Bravo, Reena! So much to love about your manifesto of empowerment. Favorite lines:
Beyond the reach of your dirty paws
I will blossom into a million iron flowers
Your pointed question at the end makes me wonder also.
I’m watching a series right now on Netflix, “Vikings: Valhalla” and the way they depict females, side by side or leading, makes my heart sing.
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Good to know of Vikings. Thank you, Lisa!
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You’re welcome.
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Love the wonderful boldness / strength / the knowing your own power! Great write, Reena.
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Thank you so much, Helen!
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Loved your amazing poem, a woman who knows she is brilliant.
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Thank you so much!
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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I think men’s aggression develops with their hormones, Reena. My favourite lines:
‘Beyond the reach of your dirty paws
I will blossom into a million iron flowers
When flower power catches you unaware
you’ll respect individuals; not gender roles’.
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Thank you so much, Kim!
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You’re most welcome, Reena!
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I fear not… I think we need to work together… there is so much to do, male and female, inside each chauvinist there is a deep fear.
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Yes, it is a fear of losing supremacy which was taken for granted so far.
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They are afraid of us- those who try to intimidate us
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I agree. In the stone age, men got intimidated by a woman”s power to give birth, not realising their own contribution to it. The subjugation process started at that point.
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Indeed. They also forget that they were birthed by their moms!
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😭
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Captivating read and filled with determination to fight with all the hurdles one may face. Strong and powerful share Reena
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Thank you so much, Tanvir!
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