My Grandma and her horse, Monte
Note the wheel from the horse and buggy
in the background.
No cars back then, in my Grandma's life.
They rode everywhere on horseback
or with horse and buggy.
They rode everywhere on horseback
or with horse and buggy.
Linda Hogan
"The day the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Mahatma Gandhi
I come from a long line
of strong, cackling women.
Each of us in turn has been
captured, contained, caged,
silenced, oppressed,
beaten and betrayed.
(- the open door of the cage,
the fear of flying,
the final desperate leap
when out we flew -)
Be brave, young women and,
more than that,
be determined, persistent,
with your eyes on the her-izon.
Speak your truth.
You come from the love of thousands.
Your ancestors surround you,
whispering encouragement
in your ear.
Our oppressors may beat us down
for a time,
but forever and forever
we will
Rise.
for Susan's Midweek Motif: Empowerment
What a wonderful black and white photograph, Sherry! I would be quite happy to travel around with a horse and buggy. Don’t we all come from a long line of strong women, starting with Eve? I love how you have imprisoned the metaphor of the bird cage, the play of the title of the well-known book ‘Fear of Flying’ and that desperate leap in parentheses – a visual metaphor, so to speak. Young women deserve all the encouragement we older, wiser women can give.
ReplyDeleteI treasure my grandma's scrap book, over 100 years old , full of historical old photos.
DeleteOh Sherry this is the most deeply evocative and stirring poem I have ever read!❤️ Yes rise we shall!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sanaa. I didnt think it was very good, as poems go, but I well remember, the abuse, the open door of the cage, and the fear. Until I flew!
DeleteTouching and powerful and love these last lines
ReplyDeleteOur oppressors may beat us down
for a time,
but forever and forever
we will
Rise.
Yes we will
We always do.
Delete"with your eyes on the her-izon.
ReplyDeleteSpeak your truth"
I sooooo love those lines
Happy Wednesday. Thanks for droppknv by my blog
Much💛love
I loved your poem today, Gillena.
DeleteYou are fortunate that you had such a strong bond with your grandmother. What a wonderful photo of her. She would love this poem as do I!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elisabeth. My grandma actually saved my life when I was a child. She was my template for the life I made for myself when I grew up, once I got past all the crappola, lol.
ReplyDelete"You come from the love of thousands.
ReplyDeleteYour ancestors surround you,
whispering encouragement
in your ear."
They can't keep a connected woman down! POW! Sharing!
Thanks, Susan. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteYour words are empowering - Love her-izon.
ReplyDeleteSmiles.
DeleteThis poem with all the quotes, photograph, imagery and words is a treat to the eyes and mind. Aah the strong message in it will give wings to the caged birds.
ReplyDeleteI hope so! Caged birds need encouragement.
DeleteSadly women have been reduced to second class status for centuries because they are adept, more important and versatile than men who merely have muscles but less intelligence than women and have used their strength and insults to continually
ReplyDeletedegrade women...but don't anyone I said so.
This is the most sensible thing you have ever said.I hope the motivation was not to have a long line of women queuing at your door:)
DeleteYour wife was a lucky woman, Robin.
DeleteYour gran is beautiful...lovely photo.
ReplyDeleteYes strong women are wonderful.So many crosses to bear ,
This is my favourite photo of her.
DeleteStrong, cackling women! Yes!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was a horse trainer, too, among many other things.
This is so strong!!! I love this poem!! And the photo of your Grandmother.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will post more from your Grandmother's scrapbook!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'll say Amen to this!
ReplyDeleteI did post some from the scrapbook in earlier blogging years. Might be time to do so again.
ReplyDeleteI love your coined word: "her-izon."
ReplyDelete