My bare skin feels it now,
stripped of duty‑bound living—
the transformation of others
from patriarchy
to misogyny
bites.
Ashamed of my blindness,
I press shut eyes
against piercing truth:
a life squandered
in arid deserts.
Yet even deserts hold horizons,
and the wind carves paths unseen.
From the grit of wasted years
I rise—
to seek water,
to seek voice,
to seek becoming.

Patriarchy IS misogyny, IMO! Watched this recently, which validated it for me. But I get what you’re saying, even with the odds against us, we will rise, and do it well. 🙂
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The misogyny is directed more at those who are seen as crossing imposed boundaries.
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Understood
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‘…Yet even deserts hold horizons,
and the wind carves paths unseen.
From the grit of wasted years
I rise—
to seek water,
to seek voice,
to seek becoming.’
Just awesome. So empowering. Great take, Reena.
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So glad the lines resonated with you.
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May we all rise so that we may also help others who have fallen.
I like this line; “Yet even deserts hold horizons,
and the wind carves paths unseen.”
May we learn to see the unseen paths.
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Amen! 🙏
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🥰
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A very evocative poem Reena
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Thank you, Sadje!
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Most welcome dear friend
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A woman should never be afraid to use her voice.
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True. Keep using it till others get used to it.
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A powerful and deeply evocative piece. ✨
The journey from awakening to resolve is portrayed with striking honesty. I love how the harsh imagery of deserts transforms into a symbol of possibility—hope emerging from regret. It’s raw, courageous, and quietly empowering.
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Thank you so much!
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