Poem - Women

Women
Ada Rizzo

Women who uphold an uncertain and
Suspended world 
Women whose arms, if lowered, would
Cause the very sky to fall 
Do you see them? They are as strong as white cliffs Battered by the Maestrale Winds of life 
Do you hear them?
Often they sing in the dark, but they are not crazy; they
Summon Courage to chase away fear. 
And at night, they dream of a buttery
Future that they will spread on their slices Of
Bread at breakfast in the morning,
Adding love for their children. 
They are strong because they have had
No other choice, but they need a warm
Embrace, time, and tenderness to
Confront the violence that dances in the Dark. 
In the silence of night, they dry their tears,
Gather their dreams, and keep them like
Small glimmers to illuminate a dawn that
Is yet to come. 
Their hands interweade threads of
Courage, strength, and fragility like weft
And warp of an invisible fabric that wraps
Around and supports their souls.

As the world moves at the mercy of
The Winds, the women remain steadfast and
Radiate light like a beacon in the midst of
The storm. 
One, none, a hundred thousand women
Walking lightly and unrelentingly along
Their Path, shining because they have
Chosen to denounce the violence
Disguised as Love... 
They have chosen to continue shining
Despite everything.

About the Poetess:
Ada Rizzo, born in Sicily (Italy) in 1960. She is a writer, poetess, an amateur journalist, a translator, Life Counselor and Mindfulness Facilitator. She has published several novels and poems, tackling profound themes such handicap,  gender violence, eating disorders, and heart transplantation. Her works have received numerous international awards. In addition to her literary activities, she participates in cultural projects. Her poems have been translated into several languages and included in various literary journals and international poetry anthologies.