Real Women
Real women have curves
nerves of tempered steel
Watching promotions
granted to men of
lesser talent,
their hearts stolen by
lesser loves
until…
Real women revel in truth,
revive opinions stifled
again and again,
say their piece and
back it up with actions.
Some women shape the future
by giving the world
the next wild, willful
generation of humanity,
nurturing and guiding.
Others act as guides,
spiritual doulas,
friends who also nurture
the character of those children.
The Aunties Extraordinaire.
Real women love.
We love to love.
To make love, to share body and soul.
Even when swallowed by self-doubt,
surfacing with the pliable beauty
of sirens,
assured,
assuring,
ascendant.
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Photo from History Central, archival shot of the inimitable Mae West, who once said, “No man ever loved me like I love myself.”
For dverse Open Mic Night, because real women ROCK!
Sharp Little Pencil 
vivinfrance
I reckon you wrote a self-portrait!
El Guapo
One of the most powerful forces on earth.
Keep the magazine girls. I’ll take a real woman over them any day of the week.
enthusiasticallydawn
Powerful words, sista! I love the imagery. Really excellent.
enthusiasticallydawn
http://beneaththesurface-dawn.blogspot.com/2012/07/god-whispers.html
And I read that after the fact (url!)
Sharp Little Pencil
Went straight to your blog and commented. Thanks for the link!! Great stuff. Amy
tashtoo
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! You have woven a wonderful piece, no bragging required, it is what it is…it is the feminine this old world has been missing for far too long. If we could truly stand as equals, it would be a much better world. I feel the walls are coming down…I’ve never burnt a bra…but I never felt the need to prove my worth…it’s always been what it is..but that comes with having a fantastic family who have sheltered me from many of the realities of how difficult this world can be, and it is their love and support that allows my rose colored glasses to work so well…(but I know they’re there and am waking up)
Sharp Little Pencil
Natasha, I figuratively burned my bra, was a proto-feminist but refuse to be called a feminazi, a term that is so offensive to me, yet I have been called that by people who don’t know me well. Women are the lucky ones in many ways – we get to dress any way we want (unless we’re in an oppressive, male-driven regime, in which case, we might well get stoned or beheaded), we get to bleed each month and rid ourselves of untold toxins, we get to give birth if we are lucky in that way. Yet we are attacked on all fronts these days, the new bearers of The Scarlet Letter if we want an abortion or even birth control. Thanks for your comments – you obviously stirred something in me!! Love, Amy
Susan L Daniels
Yes, my glasses have been off for a while, and I LOVE THIS!
Daydreamertoo
Real women, don’t feel the need to prove they are either, they already know they are. 🙂
Lovely piece Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
Susan and DDT, we all know who we are, huh? wink Amy
brian miller
i am happy in my life to know a few real women…i rather them curves surely over the sticks that get paraded and i love them to have opinions and not just settle for listening…though that important as well…
Sharp Little Pencil
Curve and VERVE. Love your style, brother!~ A
Susan
I like how shapes curve through this poem from positive to positive in a celebration of women! Curves of steel, shaping the future, midwives of spirit, nurture, pliable beauty and all of the ah, ah, ah sounds. I know I am included here somewhere!
Sharp Little Pencil
Ah, ah, ah sounds, that’s great, Susan. Yes, now I have to write something to celebrate men. Although I did write “O, Men!” a few months back when the prompt was “omen.” (grrrroooooan) A
Old Egg
Why has man kept them crushed for so long? They are the force to be reckoned with that is why. Weaker in body perhaps but by far stronger in the important things that makes this world beautiful.
Bodhirose
Love this, Amy…I like your description of a real woman..and Mae West is a good example…a strong, no BS woman…
zongrik
you’re so right real women move like “jello on springs” (Some Like it Hot)
four child with book senryu
claudia
curves and nerves of tempered steel..oh i love this…love your ode to the real woman…way to go..
kaykuala
Huh! I know what you mean Amy! There are lots of slanted reactions, even negative response to what women do or what they are willing to do. Women have to accomplish twice to get half as much of what they desire. Surprisingly enough, it’s the woman who throws the spanner in the works and stifle the progress of women that allow men the upper hand. Great thoughts,Ma’am!
Hank
tigerbrite
Wonderful piece Amy, and so true.
ManicDdaily
Well, I have sympathy for all women! Even the ones that don’t rise up so strongly! (I’m sure you do too!) I’m just joking here–I did understand your sentiments. Well and energetically expressed! As Claudia said, way to go. k.
wolfsrosebud
so much thought and direction in your words
hypercryptical
The real women (you describe so well) exist in all of us I think- even those of us not strong enough to stand up to those who would stifle us…
Wise words Amy. Thank you.
Anna :o]
bkmackenzie
Real women Love…and that is so true…fully and with all they have, body and soul…you write has a inner strengthening insight…thank you …bkm
Roger Green
You BE REAL TO ME!
dreamingthruthetwilight
What a lovely tribute….to all of us here?:-) :-).Seriously, ever since I started blogging on wordpress, I ‘ve come across so many women , strong, warm, understanding and so full of empathy that I’m now convinced we don’t really have to worry about the future. Whatever the mess the world gets itself into , the real women will always be there to set ti right again:-) Lovely, inspiring poem.
lucychili
it is very nice to be an aunty =)
SaraV
I love how you used those last three words! They a perfect summation of women 🙂
You are rocking Amy!
Stephanie
Love it! Nerves of tempered steel, truth-finders, and ascending into a ‘goddess’ perhaps. We are all goddesses. :hugs:
Hannah Gosselin
This one:
“Real women revel in truth,
revive opinions stifled
again and again,
say their piece and
back it up with actions.”
If you don’t mind my saying…feels like a “you,” kinda woman!!!
Such an empowering and inspiring poem, Amy. Many facets to this gem…hard, soft, wily and silky!! Well done my poetic friend!!! 🙂
purplepeninportland
Mae West – How absolutely perfect for this me-affirming poem.