Poet Republik-Alice Notley
Alice Notley may resist categorization, but she has done more for women’s poetics than possibly any other poet alive. If you don’t believe me, please read, The Descent of Alette. Who is a woman who has inspired you?
THAT I MAY LIVE
I step across and can no longer make myself understood.
Listen to Torna a Sorrento concentratedly
I don’t understand Italian I understand the song.
I’m here. You can’t return because
a former life is not available; they read dis-
sertations there now. The clean glass of sparkling
water is for my mother.
Who will I write
for, alive? Into the air of you. This sadness,
rather than gotten rid of, is become another;
a quality both thicker and lighter
You still don’t understand that you too must
change; you value phantoms: I’m talking
to you — but my phantoms are real. You all
value material comfort over knowing a thing–
who is speaking?
I have none; the counterclock stops; though
it’s late where you are.
Alice Notley is the author of over twenty-five books of poetry, including 165 Meeting House Lane (1971), Phoebe Light (1973), Incidentals in the Day World (1973), For Frank O’Hara’s Birthday (1976), Alice Ordered Me to Be Made: Poems 1975 (1976), Dr. Williams’ Heiresses (1980), How Spring Comes (1981), which received the San Francisco Poetry Award, Waltzing Matilda (1981), Margaret & Dusty (1985), From a Work in Progress (1988), Homer’s Art (1990), To Say You (1993), Selected Poems of Alice Notley (1993), The Descent of Alette (1996), among many others. Mysteries of Small Houses (1998) won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and her collection Disobedience (2001) was awarded the Griffin International Poetry Prize. Notley’s recent work includes From the Beginning (2004), Alma, or the Dead Women (2006), Grave of Light: New and Selected Poems 1970-2005), which received the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize, In the Pines (2007), Culture of One (2011), and Songs and Stories of the Ghouls (2011).
Poem used with permission.
originally published in Ping-Pong 2014
This reminds me of a poem by Naomi Johnson, “The Strength of a Woman”.
My woman
She taught me how to deal with sadness
She taught me how to forget anger
She taught me how to throw away jealous
She showed me what love was
She showed me what brave was
She showed me what hope was
She listened me when I was happy
She listened me when I was sad
She listened me well always…
I miss you, mom.
Subordination,
desperation,
confrontation.
Their title bears the same word as their “superiors.” And yet, despite the longer word, they have been treated with disrespect.
Women are equal to men. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
One of my Heroes is Dolores Huerta not only a Hispanic leader but she also was a woman leader. She fought for equality while still keeping her beliefs and going against what was not right.
She combed my hair and told me stories of her childhood,
gave me unconditional love,
took me to the park every day as a little girl
and with arms wide open to greet me at her door.
She was one of the few that saw me grow but,
little did I know God only let me borrow her.
I miss who seemed to be another mom to me
My Grandmother Margarita.
J.K. Rowling is a greath female author… Harry Potter and her short stories… Read them all and be sucked in…
great*
great*
Bessie Smith is an early jazz/blues vocalist from the 1920-30s. As the first African American woman to play on national television with a white orchestra, it’s no doubt that she was a popular and prominent figure in those times. Anecdotally, she single handedly chased off several members of the KKK intending on burning the venue of one of her concerts; now that’s a woman!
Maya Angelou was powerful, strong, and forceful, her poetry and writing changed generations. She was a very empowering women especially with her quotes. Here is one of her many quotes that I love that inspires me everyday, “You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated.”
There are many heroic women that have lived before us and that are still living today. One of my favorites is Rosa Parks. She stood up for what she believed in such a simple way. To be considered the “mother of the freedom movement” is something I greatly admire. Just an ordinary human doing extraordinary things.
Oh BEAUTIFUL grandma
Happiness is what you taught me
Because admiration is what I have for you
Everything you gave me
Always supported me
Unconditional love is all you gave me
Those memories I cherish
In my heart I will always take you
For ever
Until the very last day
Let’s just say you were my beautiful mother
Artemisia Gentileschi is one of the first great feminist artists. Her women aren’t the delicate, modest women that male painters love. They’re powerful and ready to conquer.Her painting of Judith Slaying Holofernes is amazing. I love this painting, and the fact that it shows the beheading as a bloody struggle whereas most representations are shown as effortless.
Erykah Badu and Jill Scott are two women who I respect dearly for their contribution to music. Their lyrics and voices spoke to me at a very young age, learning about the womens’ uphill battle for equality, respect, peace, and most important of all withstanding love (for one’s self and others), which translate to both genders. They have beautiful, powerful, poetic voices that instilled in me those qualities needed for understanding, empathy, and poetry. I love those women for all they stand for.
Working hands of love and grace,
Smiles and laughter, a warmed embrace.
She gave to us and gave to you,
A nurse with tender hands of care,
Yet always home to share a prayer.
Rest well Mother…Rest Well.
Mexican artist Frida Kahlo remembered for her self-portraits, pain and passion, and bold, vibrant colors. She is celebrated in Mexico for her attention to Mexican and indigenous culture and by feminists for her depiction of the female experience and form. A true example.
This is only the first part of the poem “Still I Rise.” I decided to look for a very influential writer of our time (although she passed away in 2014).
Still I Rise
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
-Maya Angelou
One of my favorite female writers is Emily Dickinson. I have read a lot of her work and she always seems to drive home some powerful female-empowering message.
Dolores Huerta is a woman I look up to. She fought for farm workers and Latina women. Huerta fought to break down the barrier of gender discrimination and encouraged Latina women to aspire to more in life. She is a strong woman who worked diligently and got ahead in life by working hard which is something I aspire to do.
My first unconditional friend and teacher, unpaid psychologist, therapist, and nurse. Always there to protect me, and to nurture me. You embrace my talents, build my self-esteem, guide me through the most difficult years in life, and your love always unconditional towards me no matter what…
My Mother
One of my here is Florence Nightingale’s also known as the “Lady with the Lamp. Florence established the nursing profession as a profession for women. Florence changed the stereotype of the nursing profession. One of the books that I recommend is call “God has spoke to me and called me to His service”.
A grief that cannot be spoken is what consumed my heart the dreaded night you left this earth forever. I will never get over the fact that such an amazing women like yourself has been riding in heaven for the past four years. You were so young and full of life. I would have graven anything for that truck to hit me rather than yourself. You didn’t deserve all those tears that people still cry over you. My heart was cold after you and now it is still cold when thoughts of you come to mind. Maybe one day I can be okay with your death but for now all I can say is that you will never be forgotten my beautiful friend.