FIGHTING FOR MY VOICE by Tracie Nichols

Editors note: Today, in celebration of International Women's Day, we honor the expressed voices of women all around the world, which are so very valuable. We especially honor the unexpressed voices of women, which are equally valuable, and which we long to hear. The following is a poem on these hidden voices, offered to us by Tracie Nichols, who facilitates workshops designed to help women release their voices. Journey of the Heart is giving away one of these workshop sessions today, in honor of all women struggling to share their voices. Now, some words from Tracie:

Most of my life I've been exploring human and wild nature through words, making sense of this intriguing, sometimes overwhelming world we live in. Writing, especially writing poetry, helps me uncover and give back words, beliefs, and expectations that were never mine, simultaneously unearthing the truth of who I am. I know first-hand that writing poetry is a life-changing practice, that's why I facilitate writing workshops and groups for women, now. We all deserve the chance to transform the way we think about, believe in, and talk about ourselves.

Fighting for my voice (2)

sometimes my words

lodge just south

of my sternum

in a circling churn

trying

to break

free

an indigestion of language

a great tumble

and flail

of thoughts

too long

held back

a pushing straining

cluster of brave swinging

syllable sabers, lobbing

consonants and vowels

over fear-built walls of

disbelief and self-doubt

landing on the other side

pausing just long enough

to gather

to rise

to write themselves

on the face

of the world

*To participate in our free workshop session giveaway, click here.

To sign up for one of Tracie's workshops, click here.*

Tracie Nichols, M.A. is a poet and facilitator living under rustling trees in southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, a very determined ginger tabby cat, Strider, and, for an unexpected moment, her three adult children. Her poems have appeared in four print anthologies of women’s poetry and in various blogs and e-zines. You can find her Spring 2021 writing workshops for women here.Take a look soon. They kick off the third weekend of March. You can also reach Tracie at tracie@tracienichols.com.

*For submission guidelines, click here.*

Comments

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