Susan Ashley | + Follow Poet |
Dramatic Monologue | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Notes About The Poem

March 2, 2025

~ Second Place ~
Premiere Contest: Open Poetry 11
Sponsor: Charlotte Puddifoot

Poet’s note: in this poem, the persona of "Eve" responds with her perspective in reaction to the horrific violence, degradation and exploitation suffered by many women around the world. This dramatic monologue condemns the domestic and/or systemic means and methods by which oppression, against a single woman or many women, is achieved. Eve does not speak against a single man or all men, certainly not against a merciful man or humane men, but Eve does address all women to take personal and collective responsibility to attain autonomy and power in their lives; mind, body and soul.

---

 

Anguish And Admonitions Of Eve

No! you weren’t born
to be beaten
raped
chained to a life  bloodstained  ingrained with pain
wordless  worthless  voiceless  choiceless  

No! you can’t live
being beaten
raped
chained to a life  profaned  restrained  
caned for being female
—don’t you dare cry out! he shouts
wordless  worthless  voiceless  choiceless   b***h!

Yes — you will die
beaten
raped
shamed    maimed    forced to claim blame
your family’s honor  defaced  disgraced
—their horror—  
your father not your assurer
your mother not your curer 
your face erased!

any woman   many women  
lack bristle  grit  and gristle to fight

when will you stop surrendering yourself 
on altars of violence and quietus?
when will you rise up 
roar a fierce lioness — roar a pride? 
realize your piousness will not protect you!

any woman  all women  women of the world
halter-break trample-stallions 
stomping breath from your needs
break levees of fear 
with maelstroms born of your blood and tears
boot your bare feet  march!
quake a chasm in bedrock 
beneath fierce feet of an abusive man 
—all abusive men!

unloose your larynges rude with rebuke
noose the addiction and malediction of male mastery!
unleash your sledgehammer swings     smash 
walls of iron-fisted kingdoms
lay its dust as blanket comfort 
upon graves of maternal martyrdom 

refuse your prey-status 
a yoke laid on your neck by patriarchal predators
— when no longer a prey-person 
what does that make you? relieved?  free?  
able to heal your soul aggrieved and bereaved?
any woman  all women  armies of women
form a coalition
with more than mere words for  am-mu-ni-tion!

armies of women —rise up!
from home-hearths of ash  
revive phoenix flocks 
let loose flaming wings  
burn the air   burn the clouds   burn the stars
raise your gaze  set sorrows ablaze  
burn a thunderbolt-black 
into milk-white skin of tomorrows
ignite a world of wildfire
burn it down  burn it down  burn-it-to-the-dirt  down!
fire fight uptight hedgerows of machismos;
concepts  conceits  airtight controls  
houses  villages  states  countries 
— win-with-sin churches!

refuse the refuse!

any woman  all women  women of the world   
be ready! 
abusive men have ammo too
indeed they   have it    take it    use it    live it
they are ammo!  
monster-homes-of-testosterone 
wildly wielding wily
fists like gavels    gavels like fists
religions  traditions  
feminine mutilations  accusations  bullets  stones  
masculine frames of muscle and bone 
—all used against you

any woman  all women
fight in phoenix flight 
fight for resurrection of your liberation
embolden your girls!  humble your boys!

any woman!   all women!
organize your armies 
and mobilize your troops!  
sanitize yourself from germs of oppression 
immunize young minds against submissive dystrophy

any woman  all women
a reckoning awakening  — deafening!
reveal what’s real! 
wash off your shadow and blush
unleash feminine physiques 
rise up against traps of  leers  sneers  jeers
reject the mini   defect the corset
the cost of being skinny   the G-string
climb down off your platform heels  
reject chemical peels

own your motives   be explosive!

deny any abusive man —all abusive men
your body as scalpel chattel   for plastic-attainment  
resist pharmacy aisle’s fake perfection obtainment
for  t h e i r  desire-inspired-ideals                                                                                                                                                                                                         
let  u n-e x a g g e r a t e d  beauty 
appeal to your mirror first
let warrior eyes  —not hunted doe eyes—
reflect in the blade of your sword
wield a rebel-hammered-blade with a steel spine
slice chains till they cede
disrobe your burka  black habit  and  veil  
unbind yourself 
of pulpit-teer puppet strings and rosaries ropes
—get off your knees!
armor your female hearts  shield your soft parts
any woman  many women  all women  warrior women
         women of the world

time is ripe —

a c t   l i k e   a   m a n!

Please Login to post a comment

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 3/11/2025 10:29:00 AM Dearest most beautiful soul, my friend who has always been there for me from the start, i hear your troubled, fiery voice and enforce your ever word. I chose to use some of your oh so true lines in my reply to you for I abide by all you say kind heart. Any woman! Many woman! Organize your army and mobilize your troops.....You fight for resurrection of liberation for your children - embolden your girls and humble your boys......Deny any abusive man - all abusive men your body as scalpel chattel Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 3/12/2025 12:35:00 PM Dearest Jennifer, my wonderful soul sister, I revel in your gracious visit and relish your warrior spirit. We stand side by side, my sweet friend! Your precious thoughts are uplifting and I am ever grateful to receive them and call you my lovely friend. There's a pandemic of violence and oppression being inflicted upon women across the globe; in homes, societies, and in especially wicked ways, in war zones. We need to realize our individual and collective power to "refuse our prey status". Thank you for sharing in the angst, energy and imagery of this piece with me. Thank you for YOU! Warmest wishes, love and hugs to you, my dear poetry sis.. ~Susan Jennifer Proxenos Date: 3/11/2025 11:49:00 AM for plastic attainment.......Disrobe your burka black habit and veil, unbind yourself .....get off your knees ....armor your female hearts ...shield your soft parts .... any woman, many women, all women, warrior women, women of the world! time is ripe - A c t l i k e a m a n! My dear poetry sis i am proud of you, your powerful words should go viral. Lots of love, hugs and blessings. Jennifer.

Joanna Daniel Date: 3/11/2025 4:47:00 AM Wow! Susan, this is so powerful and fabulous, love the internal rhyme, alliteration and strong word pairings used here. Congratulations on your win too:) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 3/12/2025 12:26:00 PM Dear Joanna, it's wonderful to see you! I'm thrilled to receive your uplifting and valued comments. Thank you for sharing in the angst and imagery of this poem with me. Your kind congrats are received with appreciation. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Susan

Maclawrence Famuyiwa Date: 3/10/2025 8:00:00 PM Though lengthy but it is actually a beauty. I particularly like your 'giving voices to the voiceless'. The poem clearly dance around a salient topic on burning societal discourse. It's a mastepiece that needs to be re-read more slowly and more often. Congrats on your high placement as well. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 3/12/2025 12:22:00 PM Dear Maclawrence, I revel in your gracious visit and uplifting comments. Thank you for sharing in the emotions and imagery of this poem with me. Your valued thoughts and kind congrats are received with appreciation. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Tom Woody Date: 3/9/2025 10:13:00 AM Daddy knew this bad girl was a winner. Congrats Suze Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 3/10/2025 11:23:00 AM Dear Tom, aka Daddy, lolol!, thank you for your kind congrats and for your amusing spirit. Your thoughtful return visit is a delight and your faith in my poetry means a lot to me. Warmest wishes my poet friend.. ~Suze

Hiba Junaid Date: 3/9/2025 9:21:00 AM Cheers to that, sister! I love the messaging of this poem. All the women who feel they are voiceless - you are not. God Gave you a tongue, a physical one or through the power of words written or spoken, you have it. So wield it. The last line though... I had mixed feelings before I realized it was most likely sarcasm. I guess it is triggering because of the toxic masculinity implications associated with it but again, probably sarcasm which I applaud. Great poem, and congrats on the win! Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 3/10/2025 11:30:00 AM Dear Hiba, wondrous poet, I'm thrilled by your uplifting response to my poem. Your thoughts are precious and received with gratitude. Indeed, the last line in this poem is meant to be taken as sarcasm. An ironic twist to play upon the defiant spirit of my poem. Thank you for sharing in the energy and emotions of this piece. Your kind congrats are truly appreciated as is your amazing poetry! Warmest wishes, my inspiring poet friend.. ~Susan

Charlotte Puddifoot Date: 3/9/2025 9:11:00 AM well no surprise to see you high on my winners' list, susan! i don't think i've ever seen a bad poem from you, and this one is a tour de force, full of your trademark arsenal - alliteration, internal rhyme, original word pairings, weaponised in this case..i would just say that i think it would benefit from some further editing and condensing down a bit, and knowing you i'm sure you will continue to tweak it - congrats on your win in my contest :) Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 3/10/2025 11:38:00 AM Dear Charlotte, thank you for your inspiring response to my poem and for the honor of my poem's placement in your esteemed contest. Indeed, I think you are right about more editing and condensing. I did fret about the length of this piece. Even though I felt like it was a fast read, I was fretting about it nonetheless. Your critique is valued, and yes, you know me.. I will continue to tweak it. Is a poem ever truly finished?! :) You are an inspiration to me, dear poet. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Crystol Woods Date: 3/5/2025 9:16:00 AM Woo! Yes sister!! Amen! I'm standing, with my fists clenched, ready! Your words are first a deep cut in my uterus, then a Balm to my soul. Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 3/6/2025 7:32:00 AM Dear Crystol, soulful poetry sister, I'm thrilled by your enthusiastic and like-minded response to my poem. Thank you for sharing in the angst and imagery of this piece with me. That you felt my verse physically and spiritually means so much to me. I appreciate you standing with me; a sister in strength and defiance where we join voices to loudly say "No more"! Your recent Dramatic Verse, "No More: the Crimson Flow, is a powerful verse delving into this subject matter too! Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan Crystol Woods Date: 3/5/2025 9:17:00 AM Words that needed to be said and repeated until they take hold. You've crafted this plea with power, strength, fortitude, compassion, frustration, and beauty of poetic devise. Alliteration, rhyme, meter... all of it combines into a mighty call to battle! Like Debra, judge and ruler of all Israel, leading God's army to war... thank you for this! I've written a dramatic verse as well for Inks contest which helped me focus some things I've been wanting to write about. Wonderful words of wisdom my friend, God bless you! Xoxo

Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 3/3/2025 9:34:00 AM Dear Susan, What a fierce and urgent call to arms for every woman. It rages with strength and defiance, empowering those who read it to rise and reclaim their power. I’m deeply moved by your words and honored to call you my friend. Spring Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel Login to Reply Susan Ashley Date: 3/5/2025 12:34:00 PM Dear Daniel, I revel in the impassioned, compassionate spirit of your response to my poem. Thank you for sharing in the fierceness of this defiant poem with me. Yes there was a rage inside of me as I wrote this. There is a pandemic of violence and oppression inflicted upon women everywhere across the globe; in homes, societies, and in especially wicked ways in war zones. We need to realize our individual and collective power to "refuse our prey status". I'm honored by your words and presence and I'm honored to call you my friend too. Warmest wishes, my inspiring friend.. ~Susan

Tom Woody Date: 3/3/2025 6:00:00 AM Wow. I can't believe I'm the first to comment on this fiery poetic call to arms. I guess it gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand, I know that realistically abusers and haters will not only continue to exist, they are proliferating now more than ever, in harmony with Bible prophecy regarding the last days. So I don't think a movement (I'm thinking metoo among others) will change that. That having been said, I absolutely agree that as individuals women have the right to just say "get lost." Login to Reply Crystol Woods Date: 3/7/2025 5:32:00 AM It's every Christians calling to stand against wickedness, evil, and oppression in all is forms. Not only Christians, but that is where my calling comes from so I can speak to it. Prophecy predicts much evil as this age closes but also tells us to stand up for the Light and truth, goodness and love. Encouraging women through poetry such as this, or the 'movements' as you're calling it, is one way to do that. Don't leave the gospel armour in the closet just when we need it the most! I'm sorry to intrude on your space but your comment caught my eye and I just wanted to encourage you to continue to fight against the darkness! Even if we know things will get worse... because we also know that the light will conquer the darkness in the end...or should I say new beginning!? <3<3<3 xoxoxoxo Susan Ashley Date: 3/4/2025 9:18:00 AM Dear Tom, this poem really got you thinking.. and feeling! Though your feelings were mixed, isn't that what poetry should do for the reader? Stir things up a bit? I'm glad you like "refuse your prey status". That line really resonates with me too. Thank you for your thoughtful comments. They are appreciated as is your friendship. Warmest wishes.. ~Suze Tom Woody Date: 3/3/2025 6:03:00 AM For example, so many actresses felt pressured to compromise to greedy lusty men allegedly for the sake of their career. I scratch my head bc if it were me my integrity would always come before advancement. Kudos to those who risk being ostracized and refuse to compromise. Anyway, your poem is powerful and explosive Susan PS. The issue(s) is of course much more complex than can be addressed in a single comment, but your line "refuse your prey status" I think sums up my thinking.