Being Female

Cherry

By Bee

Thu, 30 Jan 2014
  • 2748 reads
19 comments
 

I swam and kicked -
flexed my limbs and stretched,

curled my fingers 
and fanned my toes, 

opened lash-rimmed eyes,
sucked my thumb and slept

fetal, filled a hopeful womb 
without a thought of future

plans for school, love and marriage, 
motherhood, or questioned

my potential - dancer, doctor, actor...
No fears irked of life's uncertainty, 

nor knowledge yet, of loving family -
brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles,

my proud parents, or any sorrow 
in the knowledge I will not be born

alive because I am a girl
in a culture that values men

over women - not just there
but here, in Britain.

 

Certificate 15
Poem
Other Non-fiction

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Powerful, and pointed. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Rhiannon.

Bee

Submitted by VeraClark on

Uncomfortable content, Bee. In all the good ways. The baby girl seduces you in the opening and then dark realisation drenches you in its close. Writing on issues like this is vital.

My Lost Reds poem really angered somebody at a reading. She was vicious, actually. Told me I was sick and she felt hateful that I could write of such content. Understood that. It put me off for at least a day. Then I thought about Toni Morrison and Grace Nichols. Keep being brave in your poetry, it's your absolute strength and it shines through.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Vera.

Thank you for your very encouraging comments.

I remembered your poem, but I've just been back to read again. Amazingly strong and graphic writing - I guess it will draw a variety of emotional responses, just as it should. It's a brilliant poem. 

Bee

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Bee,

Very powerful poem, this. I thought the description of the baby in the uterus was lovely. And as you say, not just a problem over there. In at least one Bradford area maternity unit, staff are not allowed to tell expectant mothers the sex of their babies - because they realised in the past how many of the female ones went on to not survive the pregnancy.

 

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Bee on

That's interesting, Jean. 

Glad you liked the description. Thank you.

Bee

Submitted by The royster on

Hi Bee,   This is as already said, very powerful.  I like this very much but hope the reality of your conclusion is very different. I am one of those that believes in total equality. We're all her to play out our part in life, but I also appreciate there are cultures that have very different views. Sadly.

Roy

 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Hi  Roy.

Thank you very much for your comments, and for taking the time to read.

Bee

Submitted by jolono on

Powerful stuff Bee. Always write what you feel,no matter what anyone says. Like Vera I loved the way it starts, all cuddly, warm and safe. Then BANG, the punchline!

Brilliant.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you very much, jolono, for your kind, encouraging words. Glad it worked so well for you.

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you, Ed's, for the cherries. That's really nice.

Bee

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

You handled the subject so skilfully in this poem Bee.  It's one of those pieces of writing that can get people talking and that's important.

Well done and congrats on the well deserved cherries.

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you for taking the time to read and think about this, Jenny. Your kind comments are very much appreciated.

Bee

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Hi Bee.

A gently challenging poem.  They're the ones that often count. Do other animals kill off their female offspring?  Seems like a dead-end habit.  Natural deselection.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Bee on

Hi PT.

I don't know about animals doing such, but even if they wanted to, they don't have the advantage of sonography. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and for your thoughts. I really appreciate it.

 

Bee

Submitted by prettyrose on

Really Brilliant and so much detail loved it and well done on cherries, well deserved yessmiley

 

 

Take Care

 

Trish x

smiley Keep Smiling

Keep Writing xxx

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you for such lovely words, Trish. 

Best wishes to you,

Bee

Submitted by Denzella on

Bee,

If ever a poem packed a punch then this is it.  Powerful and profound.  More power to your pen and sorry about the alliteration but I wanted my response to be something that might trigger my memory of a poem that  has such  a strong and deeply felt message.

Moya

 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Never apologize for alliteration - I love it! I'm so pleased the message came across well. 

Thank you, Moya.

Bee