Break the bias
Issue #74 of your inbox poetry magazine
We thought we'd truly come far but
Evolution is what we need
to erase the primitive rut
so our daughters can freely breathe.
Evolution! Is what we need
more powerful to end this strife?
So our daughters can freely breathe,
feel liberated and alive.
My children, both of them - I hope they will grow into happy human beings that are doing the things they love, not hindered by cultural constructs that say boys can’t wear pink and girls can’t play football. Or other nonsense like that. This is very important to me.
Unfortunately, there is still too much culturally constructed bias about the difference between boys and girls. It is rooted so deeply, that even in cases where men in power abuse women who have some kind of dependency, the question what she could have done about it is raised. The whole Epstein story, and now in The Netherlands the revelations surrounding TV talent show The Voice of Holland, it’s sickening.
We need to acknowledge that our evolution has brought us to a point where we can make a difference. That starts with acknowledging, and working towards, true equality. We need to break down any bias that prevents this true equality.
That’s why I wrote the poem above. And why I support the campaign of International Women’s Day: #breakthebias.
Let’s make this world even better than it is.
The poem above is a pantoum. It’s a form that originated in Malaysia, and was transformed in Europe. It’s only the second one I write, so there’s room for growth. Thanks to Sebastiaan Wortelboer for making me aware of this form.
In the photo above, I used part of a photo I took from our city hall. It has, as is the custom in France, the French motto displayed on it. I think the middle word, égalité, says it all. Equality.
Something to listen to
This week we released another episode in part 2 of our poetry podcast. Thist time we spoke to Jazz, a poet who writes her poems on the street:
And as has become the habit, this week’s poem is also available in audio:
Now dance yourself into the last weekend of January with this energizing playlist.
Poetry elsewhere
When poetry holds important messages. This week’s poem was also inspired by this wonderful spoken word poem that is featured in the IWD2022 campaign and is also titled #BreakTheBias by Shareena Lee Satti.
Now for something completely different: travel poetry has a special place in my heart. Looking at places to the eyes of a poet often brings unexpected perspectives. And, you get to travel to places you might otherwise never hear of. That is one of the reasons I like this poem, the other is that it raises an important question about tourism. Read Any Fool Can Be A Tourist.
The words that describe or imitate sounds are wonderful to use in poetry. It gives a playful air to a poem, but can also throw you of balance. This poem, Drop by Drop from Weekday Poems / Two Mondays, is a delightful example.