Herstory, Not History

(for Virginia Woolf)

She wanted to buy some flowers but drowned Herself instead,
drifting along the ebbing flow of time, with warm
water cracking Her slim figure and airless lungs.

‘will I freeze the river?’ She thought, wondering if the trees
would still rustle in the wind if She wasn’t alive to notice it,
thinking if Her man’s heart would still beat if She could
no longer shock its rhythmical thump-thud-stop with kisses.

the wood was chopped down around Her home. The
veranda from which She surveyed the world was but
deafened by cruel hacking chopping and sawing at the 
hands of men whom took Her feminine beauty away.

She became the water as She died, became the weeds,
became the bark that broke her own back, the pen and the phallus.
‘this isn’t purgatory’ She realised, ‘this is revenge and reward’.
‘I am a sacrifice to literature. I am a sacrifice for the word’.

from writer to death to glory to ink
to the lies under rocks uncovered, 
to god to me to the taking of Her own life,
She is the paper in our very hands.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Mcgee Avatar
August 27, 2019 at 7:15 PM
A powerful write Thomas. congrats on your win.
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 27, 2019 at 4:13 PM
This is certainly worthy of a Wow Thomas. Deep and beautiful. Congratulations on your wonderful podium win! : )
Lamoureux Avatar
August 26, 2019 at 9:04 PM
Congrats on a fine win.
Kereopa Avatar
August 26, 2019 at 5:16 PM
WOW. Congratulations on your win. WOW for my second read.
Awtry Avatar
August 26, 2019 at 4:36 PM
insight, imagination, and skill... Excellent piece. Congratulations!
Pigeon Tart Avatar
August 26, 2019 at 10:16 AM
Spellbinding piece Thomas! Wonderful. Congratulations on your win! xomo
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace