Women Poetry: Marian Eikelhof, Netherlands

Exclusive: Women Poetry: Edited by Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

DOOMED, BUT NOT BROKEN

Athena, get out of my side,

you jealous soul, change into stone,

are you so desperate...

to steal all my light, spread it out solely over you,

feel admired for your looks

whereas you know my beauty is divine

incomparable

oh, you degenerated spirit

don’t leave me as a bunch of dirt in the shade

pathetic, mediocre goddess

you are so vain

but dear, Poseidon doesn’t want you

he desires me

so, don’t you dare and touch me

my lovely, shiny hair vanished, all vanished

only snakes crawling on my scalp

but never mind, Athena,

you can have my head

see you in the world of light

after death.

***

MODERN MEDUSA

So sorry, dear, 

for not being the lovely nymph you dreamt of

instead of lying at your feet, kiss the ground you walk on,

I am assertive

The witch you see is only a woman

setting her boundaries straightforwardly

I am being honest, whereas you find me heartless

dislike my independence,

the capacity to break free from old patterns

from dysfunctionality

how you envy this

call me insensitive

as I try to make the deadline

prioritize professionalism

don’t try to demonize me, dear,

for being a business woman

is no sin.

***

Marian Eikelhof, a poet and a psychologist, writes poetry in English and Spanish about the emotional aspects of life. Her poems have been published by several prestigious magazines and anthologies She has recently  started the Foundation International Literary in which the aim is to facilitate intercultural exchange between countries by introducing each other to each other's different artistic expressions. By internationally joining artistic forces the peace process is promoted in the world building symbolic bridges and forming a network of intellectuals and artists who aim to defend humanity. Marian has planned to soon publish a collection of  her  Spanish poems.

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