Being a woman in times like these

Softly contumacious, embed the sun into our veins
it’s necessary
the blackness forms a sort of primeval aversion:
are we not entitled?
The rustling leaves whisper to each other
unraveling
a story in their breathing;
“She was warned. She was given an explanation.
Nevertheless, she persisted.”
The simple sweetness of existing isn’t enough,
consolidate the orange torch of twilight
into our words,
the kind that enables others to find their own courage—
stretching out in front of me like a map
are approaching centuries,
its grid lines darker than threat of biodiversity;
I never understood
why rhetoric should remain outside the chambers,
are we not competent?
I have an answer against the anti-rhetoric of philosophers,
my tongue
a thin sliver blade raised; “let us, by all means, be lucid.”

 

 

 

Photo credits: Stanka Kordic Painting, Pinterest

Magaly invites us to write inspired by the quote from the description of “Nevertheless, She Persisted,” a flash   fiction collection published by Tor.com 💝

Posted for Weekly Scribblings @ Poets and Storytellers United

24 thoughts on “Being a woman in times like these

  1. Wow! The title was immediately intriguing. And what follows is all wonderful, especially the defiant assurance in that splendid last line. The image of the blade is perfect, at once so startling and thrilling – and then is matched or even topped by the exquisite aptness of the closing statement. Bravo, you! (Take that, Patriarchy!)

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rosemary 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  2. Old Egg says:

    Lucidity is rarely rarely the gift of politicians or many others we encounter unless hiding something in an abundance of words masks the truth. It is interesting to listen to the speakers and their ability or the opposite to explain bad news.; such as we are hearing these days. Matriarchy is about caring ; patriarchy is about taking control!

    1. Robin, you are a rare gem of a man

      1. Sanaa says:

        @Rosemary; He most certainly is! 💄❤️

    2. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Robin 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  3. That’s a great title, Sanaa, and I love the poem, especially the phrases ‘embed the sun into our veins’ and ‘consolidate the orange torch of twilight into our words’, which we poets have been doing for centuries.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Kim 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  4. Rommy says:

    We had better be razor-sharp lucid, because those in power are not above trying to slip things past us if we panic.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Rommy 💄❤️

  5. gillena says:

    Great writing and, I learned a new word “contumacious,”

    Have a blessed Wednesday Sanaa

    much love…

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Gillena 🙂 so good to see you 💄❤️

      Blessed Wednesday to you as well!
      Much love …

  6. I’m adding this one to my list of favorites by you. I want to quote so many lines, but I shall stick to this one: “The simple sweetness of existing isn’t enough”. Because I believe those words deeply. Even when the existence seems wonderful, if the soul isn’t living to its fullest “existing” can fill us.

    Thank you so much for this one, Sanaa.

    1. Oh, and the title is just glorious!

      1. Sanaa says:

        I knew you’d approve 😉

    2. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Magaly 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

      (and thank you for the inspirational prompt) 🌹

  7. Bev Crawford says:

    Contumacious! What a gift is that word, unfamiliar to me! I also love it all, but that final line …”thin silver line”… inspired!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Beverly 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  8. Helen says:

    Lucidity will always save the day …..

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️

  9. Oh, I love this. So many lines stand out for me so I’ll just choose one “embed the sun into our veins it’s necessary” Yes it is!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Susie 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  10. Sara McNulty says:

    First of all, you taught me a new word, ‘contumacious.’
    So well written with a killer ending.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Sara 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *