Poetry and Inspiration from Women

Sources of Inspiration

• Poetry written from personal connections.
• Women who are battered or recovering from addictions.
• Young women with leadership potential.
• Men, women, and children enduring poverty, abuse, and homelessness.
• The resilience and love they show in spite of hardships.

"Bad Women" Poem Overview

• Theme: Redefining language used to demean women.
• Purpose: Change derogatory terms like "bad" to mean extraordinary.

Characteristics of "Bad Women"

• Bold and Outspoken:

  • Speak truth and refuse the back seat.
  • Example: Maria Shriver as a "bad woman" for being empowering.

• Culinary Creativity:

  • Creating miracles from simple ingredients like chicken feet, pig's feet, etc.

• Diverse and Celebratory:

  • Diverse in appearance and self-expression (e.g., skin tones, body types).
  • Confident, with finger-popping, hip-shaking flair.

• Resilience and Resistance:

  • Resist war, poverty, violent love affairs, child abuse, and unsafe sex.
  • Stir tears into compassion and resilience.

Cultural and Emotional Richness

• Embrace Heritage and Memory:

  • Use spices and memories to evoke a sense of home.
  • Resilience is akin to cooking – mixing hardship into palatable, familiar comfort.

• Empowerment and Strength:

  • "Bad women" embody empowerment and strength.
  • Ability to "burn" symbolizes their transformative potential.