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Thursday, October 26, 2006
Woman: A Poem
A strong woman looks different from here and there, depending on where you stand, what you know, where you traveled to get to "here," and how far you are from "there," where your sister steps forward on her path.

Is she strong because she's deeply scared to let herself be weak?
Or because at last she's learned to stand up, Lord, and speak?
Is she strong because she knows fore sure that her Redeemer lives?
Or because she's still so fucking angry 'bout women slipping through the sieve?

A humble woman who shines her light, is she humble still? Is she Christ's shining bride or a plain annoying female pill?

Should a woman hide beneath a bucket her radiance beyond compare? Or take the risk that men might drop their buckets, turn to her and stare?

A proud woman shouts,"God made me beautiful;" Does she sing out God's Awesome praise?
Or is she on some psycho, self-indulgent craze?

Each Woman has a calling, no one can tell but she
Each woman has a story, places she's been no one knows but she
Each woman has her struggles that only God can see

Some it's pride, some it's outright rage, or craving affirmation as her gauge. Some trapped in thinking she is less, or finding herself alone to clean up a big mess. Some cry at night in strangers beds, some get stuck living life in their own heads. Some of us cope by ranting and raving, others by acting eternally tame. But all of us have ways of hiding up our shame. Yes, all of us have ways of hiding our shame.

Some of us seem too quick to leap
Some too scared to leap at all
Some of us get all self-righteous when we speak
Some of us become too shutdown to speak a blessed word
Some of us get too hardened, like angry porcelain in the foyer, or a metal hammer meant for chopping wood.
Some stay too long as victims when we could be a victorious sisterhood.
Some of us need the wisdom of a serpent friend
Some a gentle blessing froma dove softly gliding on air's bend

Whatever our path, our pain or our calling, whatever our failures, our stumbling, our falling, there's one thing we share that's beyond compare.
It's the hardest to give, the bravest to dare, and I dare us to give it, to show that we care.

The one thing all of us need, yes, is love
From the least to the greatest, one circle together,
What all of us need is love.
Yes, sister, what all of us need is love.




Each of us is God's beloved, cherished, beautiful woman. Remember this! Believe it! We are priveleged to be one another's sisters, and as sisters, we will inevitably step on toes, even fight or say unkind things, intentionally or just by accident. What is important is where we end up. Let that place be love.

Please respond in whatever way you feel led.

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posted by Jemila Kwon at 7:38 PM ¤ Permalink ¤


3 Comments:


  • At 10/26/2006 11:36:00 PM, Blogger Nancy

    Jemila, you are a sensitive, intelligent, brave and talented sister. Thank you for sharing your poetry. Keep writing!

     
  • At 10/27/2006 11:32:00 PM, Blogger Unknown

    Jemila,
    I really love your spunk, and what you have added to "our conversations"! I look forward to hearing more from you!

     
  • At 11/03/2006 09:38:00 PM, Blogger Jemila Kwon

    Thank you guys so much for your encouragement -- in other arenas I have actually been feeling discouraged about my writing/vocation, so you have no idea how much your encouragement has blessed me (and probably made me a happier, better mother to boot!)