Warped Galaxies: International Women's Day

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

International Women's Day

I've been debating all day what to put up for International Women's Day. There is so much so much depressing news out there that needs to be shared -- from women demonstrators in Pakistan protesting hudud laws (with the government opposing the protest, let alone the idea of changing their laws...) to reports of American female soldiers dying in their sleep of dehyrdration because they weren't drinking after a certain hour because going to the bathroom at night was practically a guaranteed way to get raped (and our government covering it up, lying on the women's death certificates rather than confronting the problem...) But I've had enough of bad news lately. Today, I want to share my joy in being a woman. So here's a poem I penned for the occassion:

Jubilation
By Pamela K. Taylor
International Women’s Day
March 8, 2006

Let me celebrate this day
The ways of womanhood
The palm tree curve bodies
Made to withstand
Gale forces
Rooted firm in their place
Upright, proud
Yet pliant enough to endure

Let me celebrate
The life blood womb nest
That grows persons
But more
The life blood heart nest
That nurtures persons
From within
And without

Let me celebrate
Her of the sweet kisses
And her of the tattered book
Of the running shoe
And the open score
The eye cast up to heaven
Or a down a microscope
Her of the knitting needle
The back pack and canoe

Let me celebrate
The dancing eye
Arcing lip
Swaying hip
Swinging breast
Broad footed
Square handed
Joy of womanhood

Let me celebrate
This day at least
Before I return to battle

¶ 8:41 PM

Comments:

Dear Pamela: Your poem brought tears to my eyes. How perfectly, perfectly lovely! Please publish it somewhere . . . or let us copy it to our friends.

Louise

# posted by

Anonymous : 10:32 AM

Pamela,

This poem is outstanding. Louise is absolutely right about it. It should certainly be published.

Nochipa

# posted by

Nochipa : 10:43 AM

Thank you, both, I'm glad you enjoyed. Guess I need to submit to some magazines...

# posted by

Pamela K Taylor : 11:07 AM

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: Name: Pamela K Taylor; Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Progressive Muslim, feminist, mom, writer, mystic, lover of the universe and Doug Schmidt, cellist, theologian and imam.

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What I'm reading now

Cane River
An interesting exploration of the gradual whiting of a family through slavery to modern days.

To see an archive of all the books I've read (well the ones I've read and review since I started the blog) with comments, please click here

Causes Worth Supporting

This is just a short list -- a few of my favorites.

English Language Islamic Fiction. We need more of it. Lots more.
Pay a Teacher's Salary in Afghanistan. The Hunger site actually has a lot of worthwhile programs. You can find them all here .
Muslims for Progressive Values. My organization. We can always use donations, of time or money!
Human Rights Campaign for the glbt community
National Religious Campaign Against Torture
The ACLU I'm a card carrying member. Hope you'll become one too.
MoveOn.org. The organization that has done the most, as far as I can tell, to pull the countries progressive side together.
Network of Spiritual Progressives. Working to reclaim religion and morality for the religious left.

Blogs Worth Reading

Wanda Campbell also known as Nochipa A very gifted poet and a gentle, compassionate soul. Nochipa and I are on the same page on sooooo many things
Writeous Sister Aminah Hernandez, she's got some excellent latino pieces and always has good writing info on her blog.
Sister Scorpion aka Leila Montour - Leila is a fount of energy, quirky humor, and bad attitude. She's also a talented poet.
Muhajabah Very interesting commentary here. I don't always agree with her, but her pieces are always thought-provoking.
Georgie Dowdell Georgie is a great writer and a good friend.
Louise Marley Another great writer. I think Louise is one of the best sf writers exploring faith themes.
Ink in My Coffee Devon Ellington (who has numerous aliases) who is also the editor of Circadian Poems. A truly inspiring woman with a seemingly endless supply of energy.
Ethnically Incorrect With a name like that, isn't a given I'm going to enjoy this writer?
Freedom from the Mundane Colin Galbraith, another excellent writer, from Scotland.
The Scruffy Dog Review This is a new e-zine with an ecclectic mix of fiction, poetry, and non-fic, some really enjoyable pieces here.
Ramblings of a Suburban Soccer Mom Lara, another gentle soul, very thoughtful.
Circadian Poems A journal of poetry, new stuff up all the time.
Ye Olde Inkwell Michelle writes romance and is one of my writing buddies.
Muhammad Michael Knight The original punk Muslim writer. Like him or love him, Mike is always coming up with the unexpected.

About Me