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Anguish And Admonitions Of Eve

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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.


 

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 oppressive germs immunize submissive dystrophy from young minds and all future embryos conceived 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 pharmacy aisle’s fake perfection obtainment for t h e i r desire-inspired-ideals let un-exaggerated 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 pulpiteer 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!

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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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
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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
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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.
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:)
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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
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.
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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
Date: 3/9/2025 10:13:00 AM
Daddy knew this bad girl was a winner. Congrats Suze
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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
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!
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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
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 :)
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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
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.
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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
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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
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
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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
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."
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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
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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
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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.

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