24/01/2017

Nobody puts baby in a corner

- "Oh Eli", said my friend today, "I will never forget when I felt sooo low. I felt like nothing. A nobody. Worthless, down, broken. And you quoted this line...Have you any idea how powerful I felt at that time? And how powerful I feel now? Look at me, where I am?!"

I smiled. She was so happy. She was offered the new job she wanted so much. Today. I felt a bubbling feeling spreading in all my body. Yay! She did it! So proud of her and so so happy - simply because she was so happy! What a joy!

And that's the thing. That's the "sisterhood" I share with my besties. The ones who know. The ones you share tears and laughter with. The ones you stand by - shoulder by shoulder. Your wing women. Through thick and thin. Through rain and sun. Those who are there - no matter what. Those who love you for who you are. Unconditional friendship, unconditional love.

And a poem came to my mind: Phenomenal Woman - oh what a powerful poem! The strength and warmth spreading out from it. And I think of the phenomenal women in my life. The amazing ones. Today I feel grateful for them. And grateful that I am there - and can share - such an overwhelming joy - for my friend today. So happy - that she just did it, showed them, stood up for herself, followed her dream, went for it. Because nobody puts ladies like us in a corner! Nobody!

Maya Angelou: Phenomenal woman: 

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

So you be sure - nobody puts baby in a corner! Ever!




26 comments:

  1. I love this poem!We are lucky to have good, solid friends like that. Congrats to your friend for getting her dream job.

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  2. It's beautiful to have besties like that. For some of us, sisters act in much the same capacity. But, as we age, life goes on. My bestie has been gone over a year now, and I still miss her. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    1. So sorry for your loss. Thank you for your kind words:-)

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  3. Lovely poem! Powerful, powerful stuff and very inspiring.
    And it's great you have a strong sisterhood going. That's our true 'wealth'

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  4. I so loved this poem, and I also agree that it's the women in our life, our closest women who know our laughter and our tears - those are the women who will always stand by our side, supporting us, encouraging us as we traverse life and its journey.
    Beautiful post, Eli, and a very beautiful poem, too!
    Love n hugs!

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  5. I absolutely love this poem by Maya Angelou ... so powerful are her words that you start feeling good about yourself. Thank you for sharing :D

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  6. What an inspiring post, dear Eli! Touching. I sang the poem along so as to completely soak and immerse myself in that feeling of infinite joy that comes from within, from being the phenomenal woman that I AM! Here's a big shout of YAY to all of us!!!

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    1. YAY!!! Big hugs my sweet sweet friend:-)

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  7. I love love love that poem. It's my favourite since I was in school.
    And yes, friends are family we choose so good for you Eli to have lovely friends around. Hugs!

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  8. BFF are my lifelines and I can't imagine my life without them. Loved the powerful poem too. 😊

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  9. It's so wonderful to see find that your words lift somebody up and can change their lives. Your friend is truly blessed to have you, Eli!
    Love that poem. It's truly inspiring! Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Thank you so much dear Shilpa:-) Lots of love:-)

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  10. Your poems are always a masterpiece, Eli! And having besties in life is so lucky. We have them once but having the same girls forever is like a miracle!
    Glad that I have them and you have them too!

    Cheers
    Geets


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  11. So agree! No one can put us in a corner. It is a blessing to have that kind of bond, that kind of sisterhood! Lovely, powerful, inspiring post! Love!

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  12. Brilliant poem by Maya Angelou on the different forms of a woman. I am so proud of your friend who overturned things and it resonates with me.

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  13. Dearest Eli,
    So PURE & HONEST for feeling ecstatic joy for your best friend!
    Yes, that's pretty much me too; it makes us bubbly for a long time and if we always can rub off such a feeling, that means we're pretty high 'most-of-the-time'!
    Sending you a big hug,
    Mariette

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    1. Thank you so much dear Mariette:-) Warm hugs to you my friend:-)

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