Thank you for visiting our new website during the celebration of the Imagine a Woman poem’s 15th birthday year. The poem continues its extroverted journey around the world, inspiring, supporting, and reminding women of their WOWness as children of life.
On this special day Mercedes Sterling is on my mind. Her story was emailed to me two days ago. Mercedes is 17 years old. Recently there was a gathering of “aunties” who had been asked by Mercedes and her mother Ann, as Ann was dying of cancer, to become the special women/mothers in Mercedes’ life. This was the first gathering since Ann died. Harriette one of the aunties, gave Mercedes “Imagine A Woman,” and the aunties passed the poem along, each one reading verses. In Harriette’s words, “Imagine A Women radiated among us.” Mercedes wrote her own response to the poem, and shared it with me:
“When I read the first line of “Imagine a Woman,” I was immediately captivated by its truth. Every verse seemed to speak directly to me and entwine itself into my very being. As I listened to the women around me say the next few verses I began to feel rooted within myself. I felt that someone had finally discovered who women really were and had painted it articulately and beautifully across the page for everyone to see.
I glanced around the table to see the reactions of the many women in my presence. They were nodding, smiling their approval, very absorbed in the poem. Occasional exclamations of excitement erupted followed by murmurs of agreement. I felt connected to the women by our mutual appreciation of the gorgeous work of art.
As the poem progressed I felt a deep realization move within my mind. It stretched itself for the first time, reaching its claws out to grab my attention. The poem was describing none other than myself! With every passing word I felt that it was describing my very essence and existence; everything that I was and everything that I longed to be.
Further thoughts led me into wanting every woman of every age to know, read, and engulf themselves in this provocative, truthful piece of poetry. I wanted them to relate to the words, to feel, as I had, that it was describing themselves. I plan to share this poem with every woman I can because I believe it speaks truths that many people haven’t voiced for themselves. Long live Patricia’s astounding poem, “Imagine a Woman!”
With Mercedes on our minds and in our hearts, let’s bring our daughters, granddaughters and nieces into the circle with us. Let us imagine our young women growing in knowledge and love of themselves. Young women vowing faithfulness to their own lives and capacities. Young women remaining loyal to themselves—regardless. Imagine an adolescence in which our daughters, granddaughters, and nieces deepen their relationship to their natural vitality, resilience, and sense of self. Imagine a girl-affirming rite of passage, a ceremony of commitment to themselves, culminating with these words of self-blessing:”This is it. This is my life. Nothing to wait for. Nowhere else to go. No one to make it all different. What a relief to have finally landed here…now. Blessed be my life!”
Now it’s your turn. Share your “Imagine a Woman” story with us.
In gratitude, Patricia Lynn Reilly
I’m so glad that this launch is happening! I will share it with every woman possible. :]
A true fan of the IAW poem and proud to share IAW with all that I meet, I learned yesterday that one of my clients took the poem to her therapy group to share it as well with all that attended when I first gave her the poem in 2006. I imagine there are many women out there that hold the words of Imagine a Woman to be their truth today.
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I suppose I never knew or could imagaine all that I could aspire to be until I read IAW. How do we know this? Who tells us this? Our society? Our mothers? Our concept of ourselves begins so small and grows with us until we can’t imagine anymore. Some of us have imaginations which stay stiffled and small. IAW blasted me through space! Could I possibly be all those things? Could I be even some of those things? Yes, I think so. Now that I know, I can aspire to those attributes. Thank you Patricia, for showing us the moon.
I want to show IAW to every woman I know. I sit in several circles and want to share with all women. I’m beginning a women’s seminar and need to know how to gain permission to use your poem in my program. Thank you so much.
Powerful insight from a 17 y/o!
While visiting my homeland, the Netherlands, I greet you. Your poem “Imagine a Woman” has been read many times during closing ceremonies at our Long Island, NY based GoddSCircle. Every time the words resonate deeply. Every time, the words trigger a profound response. And every time, I gratefully accept the invitation to take a good long look inside at who I am in essence, and how I am allowing “it” to find expression. “IAW” even surfaces at times when I may feel challenged just as a dare into facing that challenge head on, and ultimately claiming authenticity. Thank you for the gift of inspiration you share with the world.