Read Poems by Ingrid Eich

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Fanning the Flames

FANNING THE FLAMES

I was heavy
Weighed down 
And buried by Judgment
Unintentional but hurtful just the same
Expectations of who I should be
As a daughter 
As a Catholic
As a wife
As a colleague
By men
Fearful, yet domineering
Oh, the irony
That your insecurity has fueled my power
Fed the tiny coals that the women in my life
Have protected
Fanned them into flames
Fed the fire in my belly
Ignited my strength and resolve
Given birth to my voice
I am woman.
I liberate myself.
Hear me thunder!
And growl, and rage, and shout
I will no longer be judged, dismissed, hidden—
 or silenced.

Copyright © Ingrid Eich | Year Posted 2026

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Date: 9/20/2026 2:02:00 AM

A fierce, empowering free-verse declaration that builds superbly from the weight of imposed judgment to an unapologetic, thunderous voice. The fire imagery gives the poem a powerful inner momentum, while the final refusal to be hidden or silenced rings with hard-won liberation.
Date: 9/19/2026 6:16:00 PM

This is a remarkably relatable and inspiring poem. You captured the heavy burden of societal and familial expectations so well, but the pivot where insecurity turns into your own fuel is dynamic and empowering. The image of women protecting those coals generationally is especially striking! Keep it up. - Chris

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