I don’t expect to have myself painted across the canvas of Instagram. I don’t expect to find myself represented in the image of another woman. I don’t fit the usual clichés of womanhood, and I’m no hero, so no one gives a damn. Mine isn’t the story that resonates with fans.
I cannot expect anyone on my behalf to take a stand. No one will give voice to the wordless prayers on my lips; no one can.
Yet, I wish there was some reading between the lines, some recognition of the existence of stories outside the “regularly scheduled program”.
Like a monogram,
my story tattooed by hand;
but who gives a damn?
***
For Go Dog Go Cafe, dVerse (inspired by Amrita Pritam), W3 with a Spunku
Jewish Young Professional 
I hear you.
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Appreciated. I’d like to write an expanded take on this idea at some point, without the limitations of a poetry prompt (that monorhyme on the last word of the sentence/line was a killer).
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That’s a beautiful plea from a voice of a strong woman. I have hope that someday we will hear all those stories.
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You give me too much credit with “strong woman” (I’m really not) but I also hope for this. Society will always be selective in which voices get more airtime but I do hope to hear more variety.
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There’s a fascinating woman woven between the lines. One show knows how to be unconventional within the conventions. You might be surprised how many will take a stand for you, not really knowing who you are. Some do give a damn based solely on your words, ideas, and feelings tattooed in the ether.
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hear, hear!
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😊
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I’m really touched by this comment, thank you. 😊
I’ve been wanting to do a blog post sharing some thoughts (some unpopular) on representation. This post is not that post because I was trying to do too many poetry prompts at one time (even wrote a Spunku!) but at some point, I’d like to do a proper blog post reflection on this topic.
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I noticed you did a Spunku. Very Spunky of you. I wanted to focus on you in my comment.
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I love how you used ‘monogram’ in this poem, JYP! ❤
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I do too. But working this monorhyme into a haibun was annoying! I will never do this again.
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No pain no gain 💪
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I admire your dedication to the cliche theme 😉
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All those Internet people smack in the middle of the bell curve, we don’t need to read their blogs because we already know exactly what they’re going to say. Call it resonance . . .
Anyway, none of us are heroes, or we’re all heroes (for 15 minutes, once in awhile, anyway) but you’re a winner if you have a few friends.
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Good point. If we make assumptions based on the boxes people/blogs fit into, we might as well not read anything at all. “none of us are heroes, or we’re all heroes (for 15 minutes, once in awhile, anyway) but you’re a winner if you have a few friends.” – I’m finding this oddly motivational. Thanks!
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I know that feeling. I mean, obviously I’m not a woman, but I feel like I’m not a stereotypical straight cis man, frum person, autistic or anyone else. I didn’t really look for people like me on TV, at least not until identity politics made me feel I should. Mostly I identify with aliens and androids in science fiction, I guess because they’re outsiders and sometimes struggle with passing for human.
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I think that makes sense.
I’ve been wanting to do an expanded reflection post on my feelings on representation generally. This poem didn’t exactly accomplish that because it’s a poem that suffers under the weight of trying to fit too many prompts. But it does make me want to write this reflection post at some point.
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I’d be interested to read it. I think about representation a lot.
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I want to say “stay tuned”, but I feel that implies I will do this imminently soon, which is not really the case.
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Yours is a stellar write! Cheers and Brava.
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Thank you! This was not the easiest write – glad to hear it resonated!
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Not only was this brilliantly written JYP, but the sense of surrender to the fruitlessness of it all is heartbreaking. And even sadder, is the fact that it is likely the situation and mindset far too often. Powerful write!
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Thank you! It was not so easy and I bit off more than I could chew trying to fit all those prompts!
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Well said
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Thank you!
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Not read a rhyming Haibun before – you make it look effortless, (though I read it was not!). I applaud your message.
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Thank you! Yeah, trying to have the message come through while keeping the rhyming haibun was definitely not effortless!
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I love the spunku and the haibun – though in my first read I thought “This is a really good rant poem”… And the monorhyme in the prose section is truly inspired (and inspiring)!
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I am glad you enjoyed. I drew inspiration from your line about lips moving as prayers remain wordless – it was a great line!
I can’t say that I enjoyed trying to work a monorhyme into haibun, but I am happy to hear that it resonated! And I’m pleasantly surprised by the effect to the prose.
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JYP, thanks for joining in. This resonated on so many levels. We all know each other only on the basis of words we share here and based on that we are ready to stand up for each other, which I think is a wonderful thing. Though, I admit, reading between the lines can go both ways.
I admire your fitting in divergent prompts, writing a Spunku and a monorhymed haibun. Wow, just wow!
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Glad you enjoyed. I will pretty much always combine prompts because, contrary to the content I keep posting, I do not intend for this blog to be a poetry blog. However, I feel like I bit off more than I could chew with this one. I am never doing a monorhymed haibun again!
Thank you for introducing me to a new-to-me writer with your prompt!
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I too enjoy combining prompts…it challenges me and sometimes the outcome is surprisingly good! 😀
You did set the bar high with your monorhymed haibun.
I am so glad you enjoyed the prompt.
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In certain ways, I’m not a stereotype, in other ways (especially when I’m PMS’ing), I am, and most of the lines I write are pleas for understanding.
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Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. There is probably some truth to the stereotype, but also, it gets overgeneralized to the point of not reliably accurate anymore
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Read something this week along the lines…not everyone will understand your call…it wasn’t a conference call.
Just in the fact that you are uncomfortable tells me you are growing and unable to buy into the status quo. Well done ♥️
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Yeah, that’s a good way of putting it. I’d like to expand on this in prose, outside the limitations of a haibun, but the haibun was a great place to get started. Thanks for the prompt
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You bet…enjoying getting to know you through your writing ♥️
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🥰
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[…] Last Week’s Entries on WAITINGLovely stories this week…thank you for sharing ♥️Suzanne – Every cloud has a silver liningDavid [ben Alexander] – No man, or: EucalyptusJewish Young Professional – Limits on Representation […]
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Hi, JYP! ❤
I just want to let you know that our next W3 prompt, hosted by Britta Benson, is now live!
Much love,
David
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that’s the trouble with us poets: who gives a damn?? yet we write on: some readers love us 🙂
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It always surprises me when people say they are afraid to share their writing publicly for fear of negative feedback. I feel I should tell them, “don’t worry, the overwhelming majority of readers/listeners aren’t going to care enough about it to give it negative feedback in the first place”, however, this does not seem to be the polite, comforting, appropriate thing to say.
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it is true; hardly anyone gives negative feedback — which can be disadvantageous if your aim is to improve your writing; this is where Writing Groups are helpful ; I used to be in one but that had its drawbacks too —
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I agree. The poetry community of WordPress is nice for many things, but it is not a good forum for giving or receiving critical feedback. I had a writing group years ago that fell apart. I’ve been going to writing workshops / retreats on occasion, which has been nice, but it lacks the “regularly scheduled” element. Everything has its pros and cons
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[…] matter; it’s all the same story – tragedies are merely square tiles on the chessboard and who gives a damn.) You can beg for the why, you can take the holy part of yourself as if it is a moon wrapped in […]
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