In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, let’s write a poem about a woman we admire. (Thanks to Devang for suggesting this theme!) She can be a heroine from daily life; mother, spouse, friend or family. She can be someone whose work we’ve admired from afar. You can choose someone who’s passed on or still living. Key: a free verse poem up to 40 words, rated G.
Maya Angelou
Saving up words
Through childhood
Fled her cage singing
Phenomenal woman’s
Cabaret for Freedom
Writing life herself
Poetic morning President’s inauguration
Forging a more just nation
Verse by verse by verse.
Her song flung up to heaven.
–Rebecca Cuningham, 4 March 2023
You have until Sunday, March 12 noon CST to add your poem to the comments below or on your website with a link here. Please use the challenge tag: ffpoemapop. Poems and translations into Spanish or English will be published March 14.
¡Olé! –Rebecca
PS For more on this fabulous poet see Maya Angelou.

Reto poético de marzo 2023
En honor del Día internacional de la mujer y Mes de la historia femenina, escribiremos poemas sobre una mujer que admiramos. Puede ser tu madre, pareja, amiga o de tu familia. Puede ser alguien quien admiremos desde lejos su trabajo en el mundo. Escoge alguien que esté viva o fallecida. Importante: un poema en verso libre de sólo hasta 40 palabras, para todas las audiencias.
Maya Angelou
Ahorrando palabras
Por su niñez
Escapó su jaula cantando
Mujer fenomenal
Cabaret por libertad
Escribiendo su vida
Mañana poética de inauguración presidencial
Forjando una nación más justa
Verso por verso por verso
Su canción tirada al cielo.
–Rebecca Cuningham, 4 marzo 2023
Tienes hasta el 12 marzo para colocar tu poema en los comentarios abajo o en tu sitio web con un enlace. Favor de usar la etiqueta: ffpoemapop. El 14 marzo publicaré los poemas y sus traducciones.
¡Olé! –Rebecca

A wonderful tribute to one of my most favorite writers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Crystal! I love the breadth and depth of her work. She is the personification of Still I Rise. She took life’s pain and created beauty, warmth and compassion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aha!!
A beautiful share!!
Love your poem!!
Ps- I was scared when I got a notification, haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Devang. Glad you liked the poem. Scared at the notification? Thinking I changed the theme?
LikeLike
No, I thought what wrong I did 😆
Usually people don’t tag me 😂
But hey, thanks
Looking forward to read some exclusive work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey friend, If you don’t want me to promote your site… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t mind 😂
#FGW
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great poem – and subject – I particularly admired the first few lines. Now to get thinking …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Margaret. I was thinking about Maya Angelou and the first lines tumbled into my head as I sat down to write the poem about her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved your part.
Would try something by my side😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad to hear you’ll be joining in, Vidah. Look forward to seeing who you feature.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful tribute Rebecca. And a great theme.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sadje. Eager to see what you cook up. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Already thinking about it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
A true legend, Maya Angelou. Thank you Rebecca for your ode to her influence and her enduring inspiration. Gracias!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your comments, Suzette. Angelou’s wise words will inspire poets for generations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are most welcome. And yes indeed her words endure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your theme for this month’s Poetry Challenge. Great poetic tribute to Maya Angelou!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rosaliene. Have anyone in mind? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mia Mottley (born 1965), the first Prime Minister of the Caribbean Island Nation of Barbados as a new republic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cool! Looking forward to it. 🙂
LikeLike
Nice capture of Maya Angelous. Good work! She knew at a young age that words had power. I remember how she got in trouble for saying “By the way,” learning …that it had a religious meaning for her grandmother.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was significant I’m sure, but it was another event I was alluding to in her childhood, something sadder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wonderful poem to a wonderful woman.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, VM. I admire her very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely poem! Maya is a true legend, reading her work is a blessing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your comment! I agree 100%.
How is your goldfish? Were you able to take it home?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great poetry challenge!!
And thank for showing us the new quarter – it’s wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, amiga. I really like the art on her quarter, good symbolism.
LikeLike
Excellent! I am making a commitment to contribute. Thank you, Rebecca.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay, great news!
LikeLiked by 1 person
TO MY GRANDDAUGHTER
She is 15
She tells
the congregation
why she went
to the Capitol,
explaining to aides
why her body
is hers
and not that
of nine robed
people she
has never met,
seeking
to preserve
her freedom.
(To all the young Jewish teens who traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby congress on issues important to them and their faith.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lou! Excellent poem about an admirable woman.
LikeLike
Hi Rebecca, here’s my poem
http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/03/08/woman-i-admire-march-poetry-challenge/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great prompt, Rebecca! Thanks for the challenge. Here’s my poem: https://brittasblog422041504.wordpress.com/2023/03/08/mums-mum/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your tribute to your Oma!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mujer fuiste creada de una costilla/pero en el corazón tienes morada./ Mi maestra de principios y aciertos./ Mami, extraño tus chistes y consejos. / Cruel enfermedad venció tu cuerpo maltrecho. / Mamita del alma mía hoy, / celebró tu vida con agradecimiento.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bello poema en tributo a tu mamá, Mildred. ¡Muchas gracias por participar en el reto!
LikeLike
Missed CST noon – I am on PST time. 😁
Thank you for the opportunity to highlight an amazing woman.
Here is my contribution to your poetry challenge:
Her class rankings and Law Review positions,
if held by a man would surely impress;
she was finally hired as a clerk with
a U.S. District Judge who
begrudgingly said yes.
She walked away
from lesser pay
in the United States
to research and write in
a foreign land, then came
back even more determined.
As a professor, she became the first
woman at Columbia to earn tenure.
A satisfying and secure path, a solid career,
but she was just beginning her justice journey
where she would stand and speak up for the many
who faced gender discrimination; the cases were plenty.
Her steely mind and steadfast resolve allowed her to transcend
discrimination and ascend steps leading to the highest court in the land.
⚖👩🏻⚖️
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (March 15, 1933-September 18, 2020)
Rest in Peace Notorious RBG
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thought it was up to 40 words. Just reread your instructions.
Feel free to delete. 😂 Apologies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Delete, are you kidding!? Notorious RBG!
LikeLiked by 1 person
👩🏻⚖️ ⚖️ 📚 🙌🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it, Michele. We’re both in luck, fewer than ten poems this month, so I have room for two longer ones from you and Britta. Olé!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so glad. 😊 Thank you for having patience with me. That’s why I don’t typically do prompts, but I wanted to contribute. Will do my best with yours when able. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems that it was too restrictive describing an awesome woman in less than 40 words! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Michele. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person