For Our Sheroes: #WomensLives Matter
I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t. Audre Lorde
Poems For Our Sheroes: #WomensLives Matter
For every woman caught in the crossfire of war
For every woman locked up and jacked up
For every woman oft ignored
For every woman shamed and raped
For every woman used and abused
For every woman stripped of humanity
For every woman fighting for her dignity
For every woman hurt by our Heroes
For every woman violated and victimized
For every woman demeaned and demonized
For every woman lifted and celebrated
For every woman hugged by our Heroines
For every woman supporting our Sheroes
WE can do it!
I think the girl who is able to earn her own living and pay her own way should be as happy as anybody on earth. The sense of independence and security is very sweet. Susan B. Anthony
Poems For Our Sheroes: #WomensLives Matter
#OscarsSoWhite isn't just a hashtag. It's a real problemhttps://t.co/TDl53Usnr0
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) February 21, 2015
Let our hearts and fingers do the talking
to bridge the gap between the sexes
to mend the fence between the races.
Each time we write or clap our hands to show our humanity
Our hearts and minds reach out to form a net,
And spread the word that each of us
Can make a difference…
Our fists are formed in victory
Each time we gain equality
Because we understand the message being sent
From our Sheroes to our Heroes…
#WomensLives Matter
We paved the road for Rosie
and Fem Ale found their way…
But finger-pointing isn’t enough
Our mudras must include us all; men and women
Offering olive branches across the globe
to heal the wounded child in each of us.
Each time I see a Sister cry, her tears are clear,
like yours and mine
Each time I see a Sister hurt, red blood splattered
like yours and mine
I shed some tears and say a prayer
So why is there a creative divide?
When talent comes in all forms and stripes
Each year, we find ourselves torn and pained
by hashtags like #OscarsSoWhite …
We catch our sisters falling and we cradle those in pain
For every time we touch another
Our healing hands create a circle of love
And together, we can hold up the sky
to form collectives of strength
and mutual respect.
More Below!
“Any time women come together with a collective intention, it’s a powerful thing. Whether it’s sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, or around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens.” Phylicia Rashad
Poems For Our Sheroes: #WomensLives Matter
Thank you for using your voice to #AskHerMore! Together we changed #redcarpet culture http://t.co/utsL6nKAhk
— Jennifer Siebel Newsom (@JenSiebelNewsom) February 25, 2015
Ode to Our Painful Past
Which drawer did you open today?
Who stepped out?
The little girl who knew too much?
Silenced by her bullies…
So who stepped out?
The aging goddess who refuses to play an ingénue?
Still aching for one more turn…
Lights, Lights, come get me!
Which drawer did you close today?
What slipped out?
The painful, shameful memories of hate-filled venom?
Verbal bullets hurled your way…
For being who Creation made thee!
So what slipped out?
The incarcerated, aggravated babe?
Banging on wretched “equality’s” door…
Being told to find your feminine ways
What drawer did you envision today?
What came forth?
The girl child learning how to thrive
Amongst her peers across the globe
And every place we go
We want everyone to say
Just #AskHerMore and #AskHerMore!
We affirm YOU…
This post was inspired by: Public Radio International (PRI) and SheKnows Media on the #womenslives initiative by spreading the word. and By WP Writing 201: Poetry: Heroine, Fingers, Drawer
For More: Women’s Lives & Issues
Positive Motivation Tip: For all our Sheroes and heroines who hold up the sky, we can do it.
More Wellness Boosters/Affirmations & Resources
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS:From Oceanbryggeriet, my Personal Collection, and collage from Plan it & Wikipedia,
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
This is a really great post. I have so many female friends who should really read this.
Thank you dear Ben! It would be appreciated. 🙂
Ben is totally right. (And I’m one of his friends)
Thank you for sharing and for your photos. Womens lives do matter and even though this is off topic, I learned sign language when I was small because I had a deaf friend. Your photos made me realize how much I miss her.
I was thinking about that too, when I looked at the collage. 🙂 Might be time to find her.
Girl power.
I am a firm believer that girls can do anything guys can. And why not? We rock.
Amen to that. We totally rock! 😉
I really enjoyed the Huffington Post video. The academy has a lot of parallels with congress. There still seems to be a long way to.
That is true. We’ve come a long way and we have a long way to go. 🙂
I love your post! Women are powerful! I know we can do anything anyone else can. I really enjoyed the Huffington Post video as well. We have come such a long way!
Women are strong. Women are powerful! This is a great read, thank you.
Excellent post. Loved the photos. Very motivational. Thank you for sharing.
Girls can do everything a man can do. I think women have come a long way.
Independent women should be saluted and respected. Everyone deserves the freedom to do what they want and what they can. It’s really great that there are lots of groups who are supporting women’s rights.
Yes, I’m grateful for that too. TY!
I love this. It resonates with me because I feel strongly that women should be empowered to believe in themselves and have confidence in their judgement and decisions.
Thank you and I feel the same way too. It saddens me when I come across women who treat each other with disregard. We can all do better.
Thank God I am a woman too. Your site has made me believe that I too do matter. THANK YOU!
Oh Thank you! You’ve plenty for yourself already. Bravo!
I do believe that women together can be magical. It is important to lift up people.
I’m with you on that one but it is not quite there yet.
Thank you for your empowering, thoughtful, and engaging post! Really appreciate reading it! 🙂
Women are pretty amazing. I didn’t see the Oscars but I did see the Arquette video clip and she was pretty spot-on w/the equal rights for women speech. I was surprised and glad to see it.
I skipped the Oscars this year too; in protest of how under-served women are in that community; especially women of color. Yes, Arquette was adding her voice to the issue. Thank you! 🙂
Great poems! Go Girls!
I saw a moving and, in some ways terrifying programme on the birth of the Suffragette movement in the UK, and it emphasised the appalling conditions many women operated under, and many still do. Apart from anything else, I always think, for one person or race to subjugate another just crushes so much of the potential and beauty out of them, and what a tragedy that is. One of my heroines is Malala Yousafzai, the girl who was shot by the Taliban. How I wish that courage as extraordinary as hers was not needed to bring attention to some of these injustices and prejudices. OK, I’ve gone off on one here, but you can see I care a lot about it.
Yes, I can tell you care deeply about these issues… Maybe, sadly, a tad more than some of us who either choose not to get it or are simply not well-informed about these issues and need to pay attention and be educated about this. As we used to say in Women’s Studies, we all mis-educated by the Patriarchy, and some of us make great effort to challenge the hierarchy and set things straight. We’ve come a long way and we have a long way to go. 🙂 Thank you!
What an inspiring post for women. I am loving the term ‘sheroe’ too, I have never heard that before.
that’s a good term “sheroes”!
Hahaha! Yes, it’s a great term.Thank you!
What a wonderful surprise to see you here Fritz. 🙂
You’ve gotten so busy that the old days/ways are long gone.
So happy when I meet a fellow #WomensLives blogger! It’s such an important message to spread and you did it wonderfully, beautiful post!
Glad to connect with you too. I’ve loving the project/campaign! 🙂
Loved this and seeing the sign language– very cool! I think it’s a great message to send. #Gogirls!
Great inspiration and beautiful poems!
So much empowerment! Such a great read for anyone not just females.
This is such an inspiring post. The sign language was a great visual as well, I think that was my favorite part.
Thank you. Interestung that the hands caught your attention. What did you like about it? 🙂
A powerful, empowering and inspirational post Eliz, thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to read it… Appreciated. 😉
Thanks for such an inspirational and empowering post! I love the poems! Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing!
I love the sense of being free due to my education. I can take care of myself. 😉
Yes! Girls can do anything!!!im all about girl power and empowering others!!!
Exactly. Together we can do greater things… Sadly, there is so much divisiveness.
This is super motivational. I am loving that sign language too! Thanks for the insight.
Glad you like it. 🙂
You always have such an important message to get across! I enjoy the poems and quotes you include to support awareness!
Thank you Jessica! I appreciate your feedback.
great composition! girl power rocks….:)
So empowering and motivational!
I love this post!!! Empower us powerful girl bosses!
I know that everyone had their own.set of struggles in this life. I appreciate you standing up for those who can’t, too afriad, or just don’t know how. Thank you.
Wow…I think this is the first time I’ve ever disagreed on something. I thought Arquette’s “speech” was a wretched disaster. Other than that, yeah…women, we’re only good for the kitchen thing, aren’t we? 😉
Some think we are. What makes you think I agree with it? I presented it for reaction. Thank you for speaking honestly. 🙂
This is one of the reasons why I avoid watching the Oscars or any type of awards show. Sadly, racism still runs rampantly.
I’m really liking the term “sheroes.” Great poem!
Powerful stuff. This is wonderful. We all matter.
I love the Sheroes. Cool term and trus.
I just LOVE the tern ‘SHEROES’ – that’s the first time that I’ve heard of that. With Women’s History Month coming up in March, I look forward to learning more about influential ladies in history.
Beautiful post! This was a great inspirational post for women.
Gah, this post is amazing. Truly powerful. I absolutely love it and have shared it. You write beautifully.
Thank you!
Thanks for the great post. It feels good to be a woman in this world.
I’m all for women empowerment. Sheroes sounds cool and proper for women heroes. 🙂
Great post! Women must really start speak up for themselves.
I don’t understand the set of 9 hand pictures for the poem for our sheroes. May I know what that means?
Gender equality is a long journey towards an ideal world. May we get there someday.
Thanks for sharing this post and writing them to inspire, encourage all ladies in the world who have been through severe obstacles. It is possible to stand up again, as long as we have the will to do it! Every lady can be a Shero if she wants to!
I wish every woman will know this words that”…..the girl who is able to earn her own living and pay her own way should be as happy as anybody on earth. The sense of independence and security is very sweet”
I’m sharing this post on social media. Very powerful indeed.
Yes, women’s lives do matter. This reminds me of Asma Jahangir who started a movement in her country to fight for the human rights of the women there. She’s been beaten up and put on house arrest, her life is constantly threatened in a place where women are blamed for being raped – and yet she stands her ground and continues to fight.
I am all for woman empowerment and for girl power. I love home there are more women who excel in all sorts of fields. I like how there are more women who are not afraid to speak up despite threats and challenges that come their way. I’d like to think that I am one with a strong character and I’m the type who usually fights as well – not everyone always agrees with me, but I believe in making your voice heard instead of doing nothing at all. This is a lovely post.
Thank you Russ! If we speak up, at least, we will make our views known and hopefully, have others support us.
I am proud to be a woman, we are stronger when we unite. Let our voice be heard and our lives be valued. Do not underestimate the power of women!
wow, it is so true. we can’t do anything with our silence. speak what you wanna speak and tell the world about ur idea.
This is a wonderful post for all the women out there. I am a man but I welcome these types of views and articles. I work closely with women helping and empowering them to be better in life. To give them better view and perspective of themselves and continue to be the pillars of their homes. This is a must-share-to-women post! Women matter. My mom is a woman! 🙂 And a great one. A shero indeed!
Thank you Raymond. I knew you were a great supporter of women and all people. Thank you for your feedback, it’s appreciated.
This is a fantastic post! It is very inspiring. I think everyone should read this because it talks about things that are so very true.
Thank you so much Katherine, I agree that we all need to buckle down and deal with these facts… Ignoring them won’t make them go away.
Women are by far the stronger sex… what we have to go through is unbelievable but we still get up. dust ourselves off and deal with it. A great motivational post! Sim x
This post is amazing, thank you SO much for writing!
Awww! Wonderful. Nearly made me want to hug you. My favorite part which I can 100% agree on is “Any time women come together with a collective intention, it’s a powerful thing.” You should see when they organize rally or join in cooking a party meal. Though, they seem to pinch the meat in the name of taste.
Hahaha! Your comment made me laugh out loud. Thank you for the humor. We do try to share… 🙂
Those are some beautiful pictures and stories. Thank you so much for getting this out there for everyone to see. Yes women’s Lives DO matter.
This is such an inspirational post Eliz! I wish all women from all around the world would lift up their faces and be the best they can be in whichever manner they choose to do it! We have the power, and it is time to show it <3
I do not know why there are still parts of the world, even in the most progressive and rich countries where women are still not treated equally. Patricia Arquette brought this up on the Oscar stage, and the reaction of the females in the audience was electrifying. – Fred
Thank you for helping to empower women everywhere by sharing this post. Very powerful!
Thank you Lexie! You are a big supporter and empower women too. Appreciated. 🙂
I like the term sheroes over heroine. I guess, it’s time for woman power now and they do have to play a bigger and more recognized role in the society.
I agree and it would have to be a collective effort … we’ve come a long way and have a long way to go.
the poetry here is really really good. I like how easy it is to understand and how clear the message is! As a woman, I stand with all the women to let all our voices be heard!
Thank you Phylicia. I appreciate it when people take the time to read the work and leave a relevant comment. Appreciated. 🙂
I think women are the driving force of mankind. We are capable of giving birth, that is the most amazing gift that we have been bestowed with so every woman deserves respect.
this post will surely inspire women to do their best. Women Power, go,go..go. Gonna share this to my friends.
Please do and tell them to check out the links. They are rich with stories and vital information . 😉
girl power, women power.. we rocks!~ Really appreciate the way you writes it.. 🙂
Happy Women’s Month! Cheers to us wonderful ladies around the world!