Best Empowerment Poems
I know its hard to imagine now
But some day you’ll be the key and not the lock
The exception not the rule
Some day you’ll be a source of strength to others
Even though today you feel so weak
You’ll be a voice amongst the starlight
And they will listen when you speak
I know it's hard to imagine now
When you’re feeling broken & so small
But one day you’ll be a mountain
And your pain will be worth it all
~ Louise Simpson
The fresh morning air,
crisp, wet, fragrant, alive
delivers a shock to the sleeping mind
waking the senses
coming out of a drowsy yawn
the new day dawns with vibrant colors
echoing the motivation for change in my soul
bright reds and golds warm the chilled,
dew covered earth
with the promise of tenderness and love
the rising sun itself strengthens the
resolve made in the darkness of night
to grasp onto life
to live it!
To Love it!
Not to let anymore of it pass by
with pessimistic lethargy
a brand new day has begun
breathe in the vigor,
feel the promise,
live the power!
Let’s take this outside
Your turn to be objectified
Necktied offside and brutified
Come step outside
Where you can no longer hide
Now you and me can collide
You’re worse than godzilla’s bride
Torpefied and vilified
Uglified, mean and evil-eyed
Always snide and undignified
Ringside, in your false pride
the eyes of Hitler recognized
Executing his genocide
Feeling justified nationwide
Lately I’ve been preoccupied
With thoughts of homicide
Accident by countryside
broadside you flip side
See you land in the fireside
For all the misery aside
you put me through - testified
Is your meanness really classified
I’m no longer taking it - qualified
I‘m no longer hiding it - quantified
No more excuses - are you satisfied?
Germicide and pesticide
Have you ever tried
To drink a ton of formaldehyde
To soften up your cowhide
Now we can go back inside
Your reign of terror on override
You’re toast and you’re fried
You’re been hogtied and humanified
Stupefied and rectified
Just as prophesized
AP: Honorable Mention 2025, Honorable Mention 2025
Submitted on May 16, 2018 for contest 8-MILE STYLE POETRY CONTEST sponsored by NICK TRIM - RANKED 4TH
Born in the breath of woodsmoke and fire,
I learned early to love the art of falling.
Leaves tumble like poorly kept secrets,
trees strip down without shame -
modesty’s for summer, after all.
October hums with rebellion:
bonfires blaze, sunsets bleed,
and the wind, cheeky as ever,
slips its cold fingers into every undone button.
History rattles here -
200 years since Waterloo fell quiet,
suffragette echoes stomping in boots,
a reminder that not all noise is noise.
It’s a trickster wrapped in amber light,
half beauty, half bite,
where endings feel like beginnings
and ghosts pretend they’re just passing through.
They whisper, “You’re braver than the fall.”
And with each year, I’ve learned to ask,
Will I rise, no matter how hard I fall?
Can I burn and still remain whole?
These are the quiet prayers I carry -
for strength to keep standing when the world turns cold,
for light in the darkest corners,
and for the courage to blaze,
unashamed of the fire I carry.
Stitched from October’s fabric a
half twilight, half ember -
I walk between the brittle and the burning,
the quiet and the wild,
a child of autumn,
still falling,
still smugly aflame.
If slavery was a choice, as some have agreed, then what are we?
If watching your father and mother endure rape or murder was a choice,
Then why do we sit on idle hands, while Trump eradicates our posterity’s opportunities,
As if they were written in sand?
If not being able to read was a choice,
Then why do you go to the PlayStation in a rush
while your library card collects dust?
Even a Ward educates themselves,
Even the eunuch Greyjoy developed the courage to stand against evil.
In the midst of upheaval, one mustn’t look through a straw while planning the future.
The sagacious knows fighting must be eschewed when only death is in thy terms.
Allah heard their suffering, but sometimes the way out is through.
They didn’t endure out of docility or obsequiousness,
But out of discernment and sagacity.
The desolate doesn’t become prosperous by exclaiming tumultuous absurdities,
But by embodying opulent minds.
Go back to the mother, which is the way, and endure the storm,
While being metamorphic in form.
You see, my Kings and Queens,
The only choice they made was to give their posterity a fighting chance,
To gather strength while the usurpers wane and start to underestimate.
We must pick up the quill and write our own fates,
No more brooding or carping about what Donny Thrump is doing.
One man’s decisions determine another man’s life,
As much as a drought challenges the land.
Yet, life, like the Way, will always find a path to flourish,
Forevermore permeating even the harshest conditions.
We must stop talking about what great leaders and men should be,
And become Great Men and Assiduous Leaders.
We were the first great civilization and shall act as such.
Lead with grace,
Strike with prudence,
Read great books that enrich the mind,
Treat each other with unyielding reverence,
Because we each carry a piece of the divine.
I am that I am, and I am my brother's keeper.
He says –
“Your place is in the kitchen,”
I say –
“My place is wherever
my thoughts can reach.
No curtain will confine me,
no wall will surround me.
My words will become swords,
my steps will rewrite history.
I have learned –
to fight without fear,
to live without bowing down,
and to turn dreams into reality.
I am not just a woman,
I am a revolution –
that neither time can halt
nor society’s chains restrain.”
Anita Solanki
“You can’t make homes out of human beings.”
— Warsan Shire
To me, this quote speaks to the impossibility of relying on another person to be your permanent safe place or emotional foundation. Human beings are not structures we can inhabit, possess, or depend upon to make us whole; when we turn someone into our sense of home, love can become entangled with expectation, dependency and ownership.
This piece explores the dehumanising experience of being desired but never truly seen, of being looked at as something to consume, possess, take apart and discard.
Wishbone
He appraises me as though my bones
were fashioned for breaking,
two limbs diverging from a sacred centre,
his hunger already choosing
which half it intends to keep.
There is an unfeeling felony in such looking,
the way desire can undress a person
until even personhood becomes superfluous.
He makes an altar of my anatomy,
then calls appetite reverence.
He would tie me to his tongue
and still not know the aptitude of my name.
He mistook possession for intimacy,
lust for fractured divinity,
my body for some reliquary
he might prise apart for providence.
His eyes of penitence arrived too late.
Beneath fractured halos,
what hollow absolution resurrects
a woman reduced to portions:
mouth, waist, thighs,
the convenient mathematics of flesh?
He had already tested where I was weakest,
where the bone would give,
how much wanting could be mistaken
for tenderness before it became cruelty.
That was the anatomy of absence:
to be entirely present
inside a body someone else
had already erased me from.
I was no omen for his wanting,
no little bone upon which
he might wager a wish.
Yet he still broke me.
But he did not know what wishbones remember:
that they once belonged to wings,
that fracture is a hinge, not an ending,
that some things split
without surrendering themselves.
He expected two obedient halves,
a clean division,
something small enough to possess.
Instead, the fracture disclosed
what his hunger had failed to comprehend:
I had never belonged to the bone.
And if time turns,
will scars stain the sky?
Let them.
The larger fragment in his fist
never meant he won.
It was only proof
that possession leaves evidence.
He had to break a thing that flew
to believe it was his.
Holding her head high
with a resolute look;
possessing dauntless courage and wisdom,
She never feels subservient.
The emerging modern woman
fabricates her own traits,
by obliterating the customs
of engulfing in murk named ignorance;
and suppresses the routine
of living a melancholic life.
******
This is the translation of a verse from Mahakavi Bharathiyar's poem "MODERN WOMAN". He envisaged Modern Woman as a leader, law maker, savior and an independent person. Women were treated as domestic slaves in ancient India and his writings kindled women empowerment and gender equality. Remembering him on his death anniversary(Sep -11)
The original poem was written by Bharathiyar, one of the greatest Indian poets.It was written in Tamil. I am an ardent fan of him. He died so young(39).
He was fluent in many languages including Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, Kuuch, French and English.
Wikipedia:
Subramania Bharati (11 December 1882–11 September 1921) was an Indian writer, poet and journalist, and Indian independence activist and social reformer from Tamil Nadu. Popularly known as "Mahakavi Bharati", he was a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry and is considered one of the greatest Tamil literary figures of all time. His numerous works were fiery songs kindling patriotism and nationalism during the Indian Independence movement.
What’s up? I hope you’re doing well. I see life has taken it’s toll on you, believe me I can tell. Its like from the moment you are born society places you under its spell. Damn it what the hell is going on? I bet that’s the dialogue of your higher self. So guess what? They may label you but no one can place you on a shelf because your soul is not for sale! They can brand you call you all sorts of names, put you in boxes of every weight, size and shape but they can’t ship you in the mail. You are priceless my friend but valuable at the same time. And as one the closest friends you will ever have in THIS existence. I want to help calm the storms that are raging in your mind. So you tell me you feel like nobody understands you and you feel all alone in what you are going and growing through. Hey man I see you, I hear you I FEEL YOU. I am here for you I want to be there for you even when they say you are too soft spoken, I lend you my ears so you can let you heart speak because I want to unconditionally be there for you. Hey man listen I know you experienced times and situations where you felt no connection to anyone and they labeled you antisocial weird and unvocal. I been there too and I know that can drive even the best of us loco. So you tell me you feel anxious and stressed out about your future based on your past experiences, like all the things that were said to you, done to you caused you to want to just get away from it all and shut down. I get it and to honest with you, it’s perfectly Ok to NOT be ok. It’s actually cool to not fit in because you have the power to DECIDE when you are in alignment with what you feel inside. Why? Because only you can know what is best. Until next time take care and be blessed.
Sa kanilang mga anino,
Kami’y kanilang itinago
Lagi kami ang sinusuyo
Na manatili lang sarado
Na dating walang pumapanig
Noong kami ay nalulupig
Ngunit ngayon, kami’y titindig
At sana’y kami ay marinig
At bakit naman kami matitinag?
Dahil ba kami ay babae lamang?
At bakit kami pa ang maduduwag,
Sa lupaing kami rin ang nag-silang?
Kailan pa nagging sukatan
Ang aming mga kasarian?
At ang taglay na kakayahan
Na ipagtanggol ang lipunan
Mag-dadamit, mag-hahayag ng malaya
May lakas ng loob at di nahihiya
Dahil di na nila kami madadaya
Sa pag-laban namin ng aming hustisya
Tatayo kami at titingala
Sa pag-tibay ng paniniwala
Ika’y babaeng dinadakila,
Na di na muling maalila.
PM, 2022
We were known for being feminine,
but femininity is not being too sensitive.
It's a serious talk about facts, that all of us should think positive.
We always get belittled, so woman should fight and be active!
We have weaknesses, but can be turned as our strengths to survive
There are many things that we can do, even carrying a life
So what are you going to do?
love the person for being the reason why you're alive
We aren't recognized before a woman who's strong and independent
Slave, naive, a coward and a trash, that is how women being treated
Men are powerful. They are physically strong and being recognized as brave, intelligent and can do anything they wanted
But now we are equal, say yes, to women empowerment!
Women had sacrificed many things even their wants and needs
But being silenced for having no right to speak
Is this how our society should be?
No equality? Pride and a man should lead?
We are essential, a woman should be loved and protected
Not being raped, abused and molested.
Women's capabilities has enhanced society's development
Here comes revolution of women empowerment
I am a WOMAN, not JUST A WOMAN
Let us also be heard through HER story
Let's be fair and do not only rely on HIS tory
Because God created this world with man and a woman
A woman is not to be treated as a mere object
What she needs is true love and respect
But that isn't what we see when we look around
Most of them are tagged as skanks and trampled down
When they try to change the so-called stereotypes
They are called mean names and some become beaten wives
That isn't the way that they should be treated
It isn't a competition where one wins and one is defeated
We should treat them all like precious stones
Coz to everyone of us our moms are queens sitting on thrones
It sickens me to my very core
That rape is becoming so common, and there's lots more
Women can't safely walk outside at night
Without fearing for their lives that something just might,
Happen at any time regardless of their age
It's like they are trapped in some sort of cage
Like an animal at the zoo, jeered at and admired
But aren't we supposed to make sure that they are actually inspired
To become better human beings and change our society
And be the best version of themselves that they can be
What we need to understand is that all this starts with you and me
Just like it takes individual drops to make the deep blue sea
In strength and grace, they rise each day,
With purpose clear, they find their way.
Empowered hearts, minds of might,
Men, a force, standing tall and bright.
Breaking molds, redefining norms,
In compassion, courage, their spirit storms.
Champions of equality, they stand,
Side by side, hand in hand.
Through challenges faced, they grow,
Their potential vast, a constant flow.
Empowering men, it's a noble quest,
In unity and respect, we are truly blessed.
@Vanessa
Yang: What is the difference between a theist and an atheist?
Yin: A bicamerally balancing ego/eco-teleologist.
Yang: Well, so what's that; a teleologist?
Yin: You, if you believe the Earth is your co-gravitational
(0)-double-binding mind-spirit/body-nature center
epi-center
of wealthy egonomic
and healthy ecopolitical values,
each with equi-valent
ego/ecological
transgenerational health-care
deep wealth meaning merit.
Yang: So, who wouldn't believe that?
Yin: Probably no one.
Yang: So, why, exactly, is this an issue I need to look at right now?
Yin: Because, if you are an ecological panentheist,
then you are also a (0)-interest
co-invested bodhisattva peace warrior
poli-economist,
presumably.
Yang: Wow, I really did not see that climax coming at all!
Yintegrity: Yes, well, I get that all mind/body bipartisan time.
YangBright: Hmmm.... I can see purpose Now i
n sort of a 4D WinWin Cooperative Here
Ego/EcoOccupyers
Rejoining RNA Tribal Purpose
unfolding dialectical
exponential
deep fractal meaning
kinda' organic sacred WuWays.
YinPower: Don't rush, reframe our collateral flow issues,
in alpha(0)mega double-binding poli-economic
nondual crown/rooted
mind-dawn/body-dark
respirating EarthNature's
dipolar teleological appositions.
YangLight: You flow on too darkly rooted much
for optimally repurposed fire-power.
YinPower: Invest less in competing economic partial-trusts
and politically disharmonic insufficiency
of loving sacred beauty.
Instead,
invest in repurposing
every co-engaging
meaning-full
experiential expedition
only where your economic health flows out
our cooperative climatic inflow
of politically multicultural wealth.
YangMind: Ah, yes,
I see
our MidWay Zen
mutual reflection again,
where my Tao wealth
caressingly embraces your cooperative health
of coarising egomind/ecobody-engagement
Right purposeful proportion,
eco-dominant meaningful balance,
light's radiant fractal frequencies
of regenerative logos-dawn/mythos-dusk
Yang/yin
pregnant/absent
positive/double-binding negative,
appositional boundaries of co-balancing light
and prime co-relational powers.
YinPower: And you think I flow out too much feeling!
Love empowers me
Great feelings delve deep inside
Hold forever true
Russell Sivey