the power to please
is not a power:: no power
is powerful that relies
upon the goodwill
or the charity
of another:: it will not
change the world
nor strengthen nor increase
the tiny piece
of land beneath our feet
the power to please
is nothing:: the power to
to be displeased and for that
displeasure to change the world
in some small way
that is everything
it means we are standing
flat footed with some ground
to call our own:: our displeasure
counting for something
in the world
Thanks for this, Laurelin. It is awesome and right on time.
Heart
Comment by womensspace — March 21, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
Wow.
Just Wow.
Comment by sarmorrow — March 22, 2007 @ 12:55 am
Amazing! Is this what you produce when you’ve been feeling quiet?! Most impressive.
Comment by spotted elephant — March 22, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
That is fabulous.
Comment by witchy-woo — March 22, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
Beautiful
Comment by Laura — March 23, 2007 @ 4:02 am
Very effective.
Comment by Jennifer Cascadia — March 23, 2007 @ 5:44 am
no power
is powerful that relies
upon the goodwill
or the charity
of another
here here. Thanks for posting this – it is really wonderful.
Comment by ceceliahouse — April 1, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
Laurelin,
That’s a veritable banquet for thought. Aka brilliant.
Hope you’re keeping well.
Comment by Rombo — June 12, 2007 @ 9:32 am
[...] have remarked before that the power to please is no power at all. ‘Empowering’ acts are offered to those who have least power in the world, in lieu of [...]
Pingback by On ‘Empowerment’ « Laurelin in the Rain — July 24, 2007 @ 1:41 am
[...] is this: both rely upon the goodwill and economic support of men. As I have remarked before The power to please is not a power. True power, the ability to control and change the conditions of one’s life, is not dependent [...]
Pingback by The Eighteenth Carnival of Radical Feminists « Well I’ll Go To The Foot Of My Stairs… — September 15, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
Every woman should read this. Beautiful.
Comment by presentthinking — January 10, 2009 @ 5:01 pm