Poetry Challenge Week 11

Welcome to week 11 of my challenge to read at least one poem a week during 2023. I’m actually averaging well over one poem a week so it feels nice to be an over-achiever for once 😃😃

This week I’ve finished reading ‘these are the words‘ by Nikita Gill and for my chosen poem this week, I’ve picked this one which again, is about the fact that we are good enough.

Every Day

Is not an opportunity to improve yourself.
Some days are just there for you to accept yourself
and look at the clouds.
This too is growth.
This too is rising.
The flowers do it everyday
and make the world more beautiful
just by being there.

So do you.

Rest today.
There is tomorrow.

Nikita Gill

This has echoes for me of the bible passage where Jesus talks about the lilies in the field and that also is about not worrying too much over things. I hope that everyone can find some time to just rest and look at the clouds today.

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Poetry Challenge Week 10

This week I have enjoyed continuing to read through ‘these are the words’ by Nikita Gill. It seemed especially appropriate to read a feminist collection in the week that saw International Women’s Day take place.

My chosen poem for this week feels like a battle cry against all the ways that women still feel that their bodies need to measure up against some advertisers ideal.

An Affirmation
My body is perfect as she is
a glowing orb in the universe
crafted from the hearts of falling stars
forests upon forests growing across my skin
rivers full of love-water flowing
through my veins.

When I need to fight, she gives me iron
enough to be a warrior.
When I need strength, she nourishes me
reminds me that I can do anything.
When I need joy,
she fills my head with pleasant memories.
She gives me everything I need,
exactly when I need it.

My body is more than
the blood of a dying star.
She is the reason I am a whole galaxy
dancing across the darkness
both in this moment
and forever.
Nikita Gill
This is a poem for all those women everywhere who feel that their bodies are something that has to conform to someone else’s ideal.

Poetry Challenge Week 9

This week’s poetry has been from a book that I bought when browsing in Waterstone’s last week. It’s a collection of poems by the British/Indian poet Nikita Gill. I didn’t realise when I bought it that it’s actually a YA collection. I have loved the poems that I’ve read so far and will certainly explore her adult poetry too.

The book is labelled as ‘an empowering, feminist collection’ and is about all the things that the poet wishes she had been told when she was younger. I loved the very first poem in the book. It’s only short but it’s something that I could really say to my daughter (or son).

Before We Begin………..

I cannot tell you
I have all the answers
There are still skeletons in my closet
I haven’t learned the names of yet.

Which is to say
I’m here for you
but I’m a work in progress
just like you.

Nikita Gill

This really sums up how I feel sometimes. As a mum, I feel that I should have all the answers for my children but I really don’t!