CIRCLES OF WOMEN Wendy Judith Cutler (1992)
(Dedicated to all the circles of women writing everywhere)
each time we pose
pen or pencil to paper
we connect with who we are who we were who we want to be
we are circles of women
writing together
apart
in dialogue
alone
reaching for the depth
or surface brilliance
writing our lives authentically intuitively consciously
coming together
to read to write to share to listen to speak
knowing ourselves more
as we come to know others
creating a space
safe enough for our pain
and joy
our losses
and our resilience
write anything
about what?
write about anything
anything?
write about your hunger cravings desires obsessions
I don’t have any
think
write
let yourself go
go deeply
deny nothing
I used to write a lot stopped
someone read my words
my thoughts
I stopped writing
never wanted anyone else to know
tell the story of the betrayal violation criticism
there were other times
I became silent ashamed vulnerable
write it out
put it down
word by word
thought by thought
I’m scared
it’s too painful
too boring
too wordy
too hard
breathe stay calm own your feelings
acknowledge your experiences
confront your censors
go beyond your blocks
discover the source that fuels
your creativity your words your power
but that’s frightening
I feel overwhelmed
just start writing
put it down
whatever comes
keep writing
don’t stop
all right, here goes:
I am a woman who…
This is a day in the life of…
An obsession of mine is…
If I could change anything I’d…
write anything
from your heart your body your soul
write your pain
your joy
ambivalence
jealousy
write your regrets
your truths
your dreams
your visions
write your lies
I am on a tropical island…
I watch the waves…
I am in the forest…
I am alone in a cabin…
I am on my bed…
I am in my favourite chair…
I am at my desk….
I am under a tree….
I am near the fire….
(in unison)
we write wherever we are
we write when we’re overwhelmed
we write to clear our minds
we write to express our anger
we write to clarify our thoughts
we write when we’re too tired to talk
we write to capture that exact feeling
we write to release our pain
we write to honour our truths
we write to connect ourselves to this circle
these circles of women writing
each time
we pose
pen or pencil to paper
(excerpted in We’Moon 2011 and in Writing Alone Together: Journalling in a Circle of Women for Creativity, Compassion and Connection. Butterfly Press, 2014)
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