Sunday, February 2, 2014

Not Someone Else's Daydream






Conventional husbands of the sixties quaked
when their wives discovered Ms magazine 
and The Feminine Mystique.
We looked in the mirror and discovered
our eyes had grown determined.
Our wings flapped and fluttered 
against confines
until we bent the bars
with the force of our will,
the cage door opened,
and we burst through.

There is more pain in birthing self
than birthing others.
Much bleeding, and much healing.
Some thoughts in desperate midnights
of giving up
but we stuck around in hopes
it would get better.

Mostly, it did.

The jackals had come 
to feast upon our bones,
but a wily raven warned us,
so we spirited them away.
Within the forest deep,
we put them back together
with owl songs and wing feathers,
and learned a language
of our own making.
Then we re-entered our lives
as ourselves,
no longer 
someone else's daydream.


for Kerry's fantastic prompt at Real Toads: Individualism. Three wonderful examples are given: Anais Nin, Alice Walker and Anne Sexton. These are the thoughts that came. The 70's were a pivotal time for me, and for the women of my day. Consciousnesses were being raised all over the place, and it was not the greatest time to be a chauvinistic male. 



22 comments:

  1. I specially like the ending lines: Then we re-entered our lives
    as ourselves,
    no longer
    someone else's daydream.

    Very uplifting to read Sherry ~

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  2. ah, grace pointed out the same lines i would have as well...those last 4 lines...really the last stanza says it best to me....

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  3. " There is more pain in birthing self
    than birthing others.
    Much bleeding, and much healing. "

    I do think you are right, Sherry!! Excellent message in this poem.

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  4. I woke up to many things in the 70s. I'm glad I was able to find myself, and glad you did, too.
    Luv, K

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  5. After the pain of birthing self, i'm so happy for the ending, a lovely write

    Much love...

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  6. Prices were paid, freedoms established, making today possible for women who can (finally) wear colorful, feminine clothing to work - not boxy blazers - in gray.


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral

    =^..^= <3

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  7. "Within the forest deep,
    we put them back together
    with owl songs and wing feathers,
    and learned a language
    of our own making."

    I love the entirety and this section especially...

    You rocked this theme, Sherry!

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  8. For me, this brilliantly captures the energy of that time. I really like this, Sherry.

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  9. I was 19 years old in 1970...I already knew I wasn't going to be merely a "sweet thing" to any male...luckily Charlie was ok with it. :) This is a great coming of feminine age piece...love it!

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  10. It was during that time period when I began to discover my voice and looking in the mirror was finally a gift of further expectation. You capture so well and that final stanza reminds me of Estes' Bone Woman, an image I took deep into my soul that still rattles on occasion. Thanks Sherry,

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  11. You bring back memories of my "burn my bra" days. Surprised I didn't drive my machismo husband crazy. But once consciousness is lifted, it doesn't come down. So, rather than lose me - he changed. How cool is that? Love your poem about this.

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  12. Had this piece written & performed back in '70s this def would soar greater than you could imagine. Fantastic Sherry!

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  13. I was born in the 60s and equality has always been obvious to me and everyone I grew up with. We are fathers who share in child rearing responsibility (many of us as single dads).

    There is a lot of resentment towards the entitled and bigoted men of the Boomer Era that has carried over to the echo and genX. I pray for the day that we are all just people thanks to the stnog women of Sherry's generation.

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    Replies
    1. I do love the roar of this sherry :) I bet you were (are) a handful!!

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    2. Sam, I am! hee hee! Even back in the day we were talking about liberation for all, as men were confined by their roles back then as well. I, too, would love a world where we are all just People........and I am so happy to see young hands-on dads like you, who are totally there for your children. Things have improved greatly in that way, thankfully.

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  14. I echo Sam's observation that maybe someday we will come to terms that all are equal in this struggle called 'life'. someday there will not be societal predetermined opportunities or privilages based on gender, race or ethnicity. maybe tomorrow I will wake and I will smile at you and you will reciprocate, I will love unconditionally the way of other animal species and then I will lay my head to forever rest peacefully

    gracias, mi amiga. this inspirational piece resounds to many

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  15. There is more pain in birthing self
    than birthing others.

    and of course the last four are exquisite. This is a wisdom poem that will never 'age". I do believe each sex has their own unique strengths to offer, but it is the admiration of and valuing equally the gifts/strengths that each possesses that we must strive for! Beautiful, Sherry

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  16. There is nothing more beautiful than the re-birth of one’s self- stronger, wiser, enlightened, empowered. This is so inspiring!

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  17. ... we've done it all! Perfect delivery Sherry!

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  18. There is more pain in birthing self
    than birthing others.

    I was really struck by the truth of these lines, Sherry. You always speak with such a powerful voice of self-transformation.

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  19. Can't help but grin at the thought of you facing down some ignoramus with your steely resolve, Sherry :) ~

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