On the strength of women

a recorded poem for all women, everywhere

I wrote this poem about a year ago, to honor the lovely (and strong!) Miryam of Miryam’s Space.

On the strength of women
by Heather L. Rollins
April 27, 2025

They tell us women we are weak
They call us the fair ones
They tell us the world is cruel
They keep us home to keep us safe
They do not know this only 
	keeps the world safe from us.

They do not know us
We are not safe!
We are a danger and a risk to all
The world is not safe from women
The world is not safe 
	from daughters and mothers and wives.

You say you are not strong
I say you have not seen your strength
Nor have I seen mine 
They said I was weak
They labeled me fragile
They were wrong
The world is not safe from me, 
	the world is not safe from you.

I shout out that we women are strong
I say our strength is like water
I say our strength is like silence
They keep us home where we get stronger
They do not know that by this
	we grow into fearsome Mother Bear.

They do not know us
We are the Mighty River
We are erosion by Wind and by Time
We are the Voice of Accountability
We are whipping Weeping Willow 
The world is not safe
	from all the power of mighty women.

Sing a song of the strength of women!
Sing of the fierce fair ones!
Sing of kindness in the midst of cruelty!
Sing of the den of Mother Bear!
Sing of a world made safe
	by the mightiness of women!

Last week, in a study group, we talked about Rabbi Akiva, one of the most significant sages from our tradition. The text we discussed included the image of water dripping on a stone every day, gradually wearing it away. We discussed change, that sometimes change is a huge event, like lightning striking a mountain and setting off a rockslide, more often change is the dropping water, carving the rock over many years. It reminded me of this poem.

Photo by Winston Chen on Unsplash

Some may say it takes strength to act, and this is true. I say it takes strength to refrain, to restrain, to act only a little. After all, I am only one water drop, and you are only one water drop. But together, we are a flood. Together we make holes in stones and carve the faces of mountains. We are women, and we are strong.