When my own voice falters

-
listening to the women who believe in me

you told me ‘you are awesome’; I will
take that hat and wear it, play
that role ‘til I believe it of myself without
the costume

you told me ‘you are excellent at all
you do’; I will strap those laces and stride
in borrowed boots until I find
my own again

you told me ‘you inspire me with your
resilience’; I will wield my sword left
handed while cuts and bruises 
are healing

you told me ‘I appreciate
your vulnerability’; I will remain
on centre stage, not seeing all
those empty seats

you told me ‘you will be ok, you
always are’; and I believe you,
for on this you are always
right

you told me ‘have no fall back
plan’; and so I fall – in desperation
spread my wings and learn
to fly



Comments

Heather said…
I just love this.
6 November 2015 at 22:15
margieg said…
that's a beautiufl poem.....especially the final verse....
I wonder how this would sound as a song sung by Kylie Brice?? Just at thought!
I also love your sentiment behind your words...maybe misquoted though.... "I hope one day there's no need for an International Womens day...." So true!! xo
Bless you in all you continue to do with your gift with words and feelings, your gift of spoken word, writing and poetry. Love & hugs to you. Margie G :)
9 March 2016 at 10:35
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On hearing marriage might be restricted again in our church. Midweek Musing.

-
Image
I am disappointed.
I am angry.
I feel betrayed.

A musing, midweek, after news that a courageous, generous, and faithful decision on marriage might be cast aside.



In July, the national council of my church, the Uniting Church in Australia, made a decision to include in our understanding of marriage that it is both between a man and a woman, and between two people regardless of gender, and to allow our members to hold either view according to their conscience (for details, see here, and here; for former President Rev Prof Andrew Dutney's reflection on this as a courageous and faithful decision, see here).

This decision did not cast aside one view or another, did not declare or even imply that the old, familiar, cherished-by-many view was wrong. It did allow us to give dignity to faithful people who want to commit to lifelong partnership with the vows and covenant of marriage under law and within the church before God.

There are some who hold that old familiar view of marriage who wa…
Read more

oral communication and the relationship between speaker and listener

-
Have you heard church leaders, preachers, theologians bemoan the lack of ability of congregations today to listen to a sermon?
Listening audiences are accused of having short attention spans, requiring multi-media delivery of a message, not valuing oratory. But is this true, or fair?  Should the 'blame' be shouldered, at least in part, by the preacher?  I suggest that we have lost the ability to communicate orally, not just to listen attentively and to hear.  Can we regain the skills of oratory, utilise tools of performance, and once more hold an audience for longer than 13 minutes (a time suggested in a book called The Prodigal Project as the ideal length for a sermon)? Can we help listeners learn again to be attentive for longer, to hear a message and hold onto it after the blessing and the handshake at the door?  And should we even strive to achieve these goals? Should we even bother? Or do we abandon the oral communication of our sacred texts for the more culturally popula…
Read more

After. How long? A prayer for the hurting.

-
Image
Sometimes I pray by colouring, because there are no words.

Sometimes when I pray by colouring, the words arise.

Sometimes poetry says what everyday ordinary words cannot speak.

This prayer, this poem, is dedicated to the people who are hurting: the ones being spoken about, vilified, dehumanised, by the ungenerous lack of acceptance of two views of marriage agreed to by the national council of our church by some members of our church.

This is my prayer. Leanne and Susan, the tears are for you, the hope is for you.


After. How long? For Leanne and Susan, and the multitude 

a rainbow canvass
after dark, together
reflect me, together, hark.

a rainbow promise
after rain: never,
never, will I flood again.

a rainbow kin-dom
after me to follow
my Way of rainbow
promise, and love, and light
in the dark
Read more