For any woman who has ever struggled with her life, herself, her conscience, her appearance, and/or her worth in this world, for whatever reason. I know I certainly have. Just remember, have patience with yourself, realise a change is only a thought away, and never, ever, let another make you feel bad for being gentle, kind, caring, creative, sensual, rampant, raucous, or bold. It is part of your feminine nature, so do not deny it. Having the strength to accept the housecat, and the Tiger under the same skin is an art. If not managed well you can easily lose your inner standing and fall flat on your face. I did! There is always hope though. As the song goes..."Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...".

My niece shared these poems with me and I believe this may give others some inspiration and strength to "break on through to the other side!" Okay, okay...can't help it...That IS a great Doors song!...y'know!


*Phenomenal Woman, by Maya Angelou*

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.


********************************


*Still I Rise, by Maya Angelou*

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Thanks Silk... It was good for me to read these too!!

It's official!! Here we have the New Zealand measure of a woman's worth!!! ~ I rather fancy the ram throwin' contest meself!! *LOL*

http://www.perfectwomancompetition.co.nz/

C'mon ye ladies from the Northern Hemisphere, let's make it an international event!!! T'would be fun!

Ram tossing... Is that like cow tipping??? *lol*

No...quite different Indie....yer not just knockin' over a sleepin cow in this instance.

You have to grab a 110 kilo live and stroppy Ram, then maneouver the woolly onto his back, ready to shear his sweet little belly! Sheep (especially rams) are not known for doing as they are told and there usually ensues a rather comical sight.

I could expand on this event if they would let me...I say get the woolly into position then hold him there while y'sing two rounds of "BAAA BAAA Black sheep...hae ye any wool?" Whaddya reckon? *L*