“Greater love hath no man...”
but a woman yes
A mother's love deeper than
any passionate caress
In literature women have a history
I have lived Sappho's romantic love,
read Corinna's lyric poetry,
felt Aelia Eudocia's faith from above
I've puzzled at Cleobulina's riddles
and felt Erinna lament for the death of her friend,
was enamored by Li Qingzhao,
marveled over Xue Tao to no end
I have suffered Maya Angelou's painful loss,
felt the warning of Mary Shelly,
seen the love of Jane Austin,
lived the despair of Bronte
The difficulties of marriage of Woolf
Rowling's love and friendship's splendor
Elliot's class difference, Cather's exile
Morrison's race and gender
understood Alcott's dilemma between personal growth and duty,
waged the battle between good and evil of Hurston and Harper Lee,
suffered the violence, guilt and shame of Tartt
seen Dickinson's wonders of nature, and immortality
As I read these women's words of love
I see women are greater than any man
Love's depths vaster than all above
To feel what a mother does I never can
-
Author:
sorenbarrett (
Offline) - Published: September 14th, 2023 06:49
- Comment from author about the poem: This poem was written in response to a challenge by L.B. Mek to ballance a poem I wrote about men with one of women.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 13
- Users favorite of this poem: Bella Shepard, Teddy.15, L. B. Mek, LIZ
Offline)
Comments4
Reads like an intimate connection to many of women’s special works-I bet you there were many more who loved their work as a mother would their child but gained no traction or support for their art to be seen and be compensated-I bet that most of the ‘muses’ were probably artists and contributed to the ‘celebrated (mostly male) artists’ work-thanks for the write
That is probably true and we will sadly never know. But then I have often felt that this is true of all artists. It is who is in power, who you know and at times luck that determine what is seen. Because of this I make a point to look for independent artists in music and other arts to find new things. Thank you so much for reading and your wonderful comment.
Parisab has said it perfectly, can't tamper with that. If you plumb the depths of a woman's love, it is as deep as the sea, and as expansive as the heavens. Thank you for this beautiful poem!
Thank you so much Bella for your read and insightful comments.
challenge completed this is a masterpiece
I cannot choose a favourite part each line has its beauty and elegance and I could never argue the depth of a woman's love as I am one. Superb beauty throughout 💖
Thanks so much Teddy. I am convinced that it is not possible for a man to feel this type of love since nature has left women, as mothers, to feel love for a literal piece of them that they carried inside them for 9 months. Not being a woman I can not speak from personal feeling but I have from observation seen this. Thanks for the read and comment.
knocked it out of the park!
'first swing'
brilliant, yeah these is it here
'Balance'
we're all together in the fight...
(I bow to your superior talent)
'was enamored by Li Qingzhao,
marveled over Xue Tao to no end
I have suffered Maya Angelou's painful loss,
felt the warning of Mary Shelly,
seen the love of Jane Austin,
lived the despair of Bronte'
Let's not kid ourselves about the superior talent. Your poems are a marker that shoot for. But I thank you my friend for your encouraging words .
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.