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Girl Rising

I will not be held down I rise from the pit of ignorance No longer silent Stronger than you I am what you fear No longer will I be denied Give me my education Each day I will come to your door Knocking till you answer My time is now You will not ignore me I will be heard I stand with my sisters An immovable force This is my time You may shoot me Place your foot upon my neck Yet I will scream Calling out for justice I will not stop My sisters will lift me up I will spit in your face My life is not yours to decide Do not consider this veil as a sign of my weakness It represents your own You are no longer my master Open the school doors Welcome in all the children We will be your strength In the end you will thank us You will praise God for wisdom You will gain strength The winds of change are good If all are not free you live as a jailor Brothers are coming to our rescue Do not be found among the guilty It is time for change The time is now Look up the Movie Trailer for "Girl Rising" the movie inspired my poem.

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Mayur Choudhari

Date: 4/14/2017 8:28:00 AM

Powerful. Just like always, your poem has struck the perfect chord again.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 4/14/2017 8:49:00 AM

Thanks Mayur, thanks for reading it.;0)

Ravindra K Kapoor

Date: 1/13/2014 12:50:00 PM

The condition of women in almost all the developing countries is not in good shape and condition. I too agree with you, that Education remains the best and the most effective way to remove the layers of darkness which surrounds 70 to 80% women in all such countries. In fact in some countries they are living under the tortures of men like slaves in most pitiable conditions. Your Poem definitely high lights these dark areas and suggest very effectively the great light of hopes the candle of education can spread. Excellent work my friend. Love and best wishes.....Ravindra K Kapoor

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/13/2014 1:04:00 PM

Thanks Ravindra, I appreciate the time you took to read my poem.

Eileen Manassian

Date: 8/5/2013 8:57:00 AM

RICHARD......RICHARD......RICHARD!!!!! I WON!!!!! THANK YOU....THANK YOU....THANK YOU! I....I'm speechless! I'm so so thrilled!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) Do you have any idea???? No...you don't! Thanks! Soup Mail!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 1/13/2014 1:12:00 PM

Awwwwwwwww......I still recall the thrill of the moment.....Winning in YOUR contest....and now this post when I'm so low.....Richard, your friendship is a precious sweet gift.....Thank you for being in my life.....

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/13/2014 1:07:00 PM

I am reading this for the first time. The only reason you won is because you are talented , articulate and artistic.

John Posey

Date: 7/6/2013 8:32:00 PM

Well done, my friend I will stand with you... Jake

Skat A

Date: 7/6/2013 2:10:00 PM

this is one cool poem, CONGRATS, love Skat

Sara Kendrick

Date: 7/6/2013 4:10:00 AM

Interesting informative work..Congrats on your great win..Sara

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 7/6/2013 1:32:00 AM

Congratulations Richard: Write on.....SuZ

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 7/5/2013 11:16:00 PM

RICHARD.... congratulations... from:Linda

Caleah Buil

Date: 6/27/2013 9:57:00 AM

Oh, I indeed loved this!! Thanks so much for recommending it! It felt strong and powerful.A "Nothing can bring me down" attitude. I'm waiting for the movie too! Looks good. Great write!!

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 7/3/2013 4:41:00 PM

It should be very good.

Jack Jordan

Date: 6/27/2013 6:08:00 AM

Powerful writing! I'll read "Boy Rising" next... Jack

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/27/2013 7:17:00 AM

Thanks Jack, I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.

Manel Gunatillake

Date: 6/26/2013 11:02:00 AM

Richard Have you read " Desert Flower" Waris Dirie autobiographical book ?. Waris Dirie became a famous model. She says this female circumcision takes place even in USA among the Somalians. (female genital mutilation(FGM). if you can get hold of the book, worth reading. But this is worse, fight for knowledge too. I must watch the movie. Thanks My dearest

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/26/2013 8:37:00 PM

Your welcome and thanks for adding your voice.

Debbie Duncan

Date: 6/25/2013 3:50:00 PM

This is a nice poem about females ;},,,, thank you for liking my Pitch Perfect Dreams ;}

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/26/2013 6:25:00 AM

Thanks Debbie

Kash Poet

Date: 6/25/2013 12:42:00 PM

a GREAT poem here Richard!Enjoyed the read.Thanks for visiting my poem page.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/26/2013 6:25:00 AM

My pleasure Kash

Monterey Sirak

Date: 6/25/2013 7:59:00 AM

Oh my goodness! Incredible poem. It embodies power. It made me want to stand up and cheer.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/25/2013 8:19:00 AM

Aw thanks Monterey, your comment has put a smile on my face.

Poet Tacito

Date: 6/25/2013 7:17:00 AM

Fantastic. Such a necessary piece!!!! Fly. High.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/25/2013 7:28:00 AM

Thanks again drake

Shadow Hamilton

Date: 6/25/2013 5:45:00 AM

Richard this moved me a most masterful pen Shadow x smiles

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/25/2013 6:42:00 AM

Thanks Shadow, so glad you read it.

Eileen Manassian

Date: 6/25/2013 2:23:00 AM

Liberation for women! WOW! Not only n the area of education...there are so many misconceptions. Do you know that in some of the countries in the Middle East Female Genital Mutilation is still practiced? The reason behind it? Woman are not supposed to enjoy sex and so....the female version of circumcision is performed...except..the reason is only to calm the woman's sexual need for stimulation and pleasure. Sorry to bring it up...but women need liberation from a great many things!

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/25/2013 7:02:00 PM

:) Thank goodness, Richard.... :) Thank goodness. You know how I feel about your work.....

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/25/2013 8:25:00 AM

I took no offence and did not consider your comment aggressive. I think all parts of the message need to get out. My comment back was merely part of the greater conversation. I like that you have something to add. That is one of the things I most appreciate about you.

Eileen Manassian
Date: 6/25/2013 6:48:00 AM

Oh dear....Richard...I did not mean that in an aggressive way AT ALL! This is a fantastic write...Of course...if women receive the education they need, they will be empowered to stop many of the practices that degrade them. I do applaud you...and this lovely write. Hope you have a great morning.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/25/2013 6:37:00 AM

Yes I am aware of this horrible practice. Still we must start somewhere. Education is not a bad place to start.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/25/2013 12:37:00 AM

wow, I love how you did this. Just the other day I saw that 30 or 40 percent of women in the world are living with domestic abuse. it is so sad for me to think of this. I hope an uprising can occur. Boy is it needful!!!

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/25/2013 6:41:00 AM

Women are referred to as the weaker sex but when you consider what women have endured over centuries there can be no doubt they have great strength and resilience. Men who abuse women at the weaker ones.

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 6/24/2013 8:34:00 PM

When we grow up in North America we take things like education for granted. Thanks for your kind comment.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/24/2013 8:49:00 PM

Oops I had meant to attach this comment too your message Karen. Look up *lol*

Karen Anglesey

Date: 6/24/2013 8:22:00 PM

Richard, wow ... I can see why you were so inspired to write this. Your awareness will hopefully point many in a direction of taking action... this really rocks my senses :)

Heather Ober

Date: 6/24/2013 9:12:00 AM

Oh my, this one is powerful! "I rise from the pit of ignorance" - I love that line. And that bit about the veil? That gave me shivers! To answer your question, I'm in Ottawa :)

Heather Ober
Date: 6/25/2013 7:03:00 AM

I have never been to BC! I've been to all of the eastern provinces, but I would love to get out west at some point - and I want to see the territories too. I think there's a cross-country road trip in my future haha :)

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/24/2013 8:12:00 PM

I am originally from a small northern town called Kirkland Lake. I now live in Kelowna British Columbia. I just love it out here in the west.

John Posey

Date: 6/24/2013 8:46:00 AM

Richard, it matters not from where the inspiration comes.... When the battle nears, I want you on my side..... Great work.... Jake

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 6/24/2013 9:03:00 AM

Thanks Jake, I will happily stand with you.