110. Relief Outlet

Posted on May 3, 2022 by iPoem

The Windup Girl by xanderhyde on Deviant Art

Review / Summary / Overview for 110. Relief Outlet

Overview

Relief Outlet is an unflinching exposé of the commodification and control of the feminine principle — both in society and in spirit. The poem confronts the historical and ongoing erasure of the Sacred Feminine through a system of patriarchal power, consumerism, and technological manipulation. It moves from personal to political, from mythic to modern, weaving together a critical tapestry that implicates religion, media, government, and science in the systematic distortion of womanhood. Ultimately, it calls for nothing less than a spiritual rebalancing: the reinstallation of the Divine Feminine as co-equal to the masculine within creation’s grand design.

Why This Poem Matters

This poem matters because it exposes one of the most pervasive wounds in human consciousness — the exploitation and suppression of feminine energy. By tracing this distortion from sexual objectification to technological obsolescence, Relief Outlet holds a mirror to society’s moral decay and the collective consequences of losing reverence for the life-giving principle. Yet the poem does more than indict — it points the way toward redemption: the reawakening of love, integrity, and spiritual equality as the only sustainable currency of existence. Its importance lies in its courage — it says aloud what many feel but few dare to articulate, demanding awareness and reclamation of divine balance.

Imagery and Tone with Excerpts

The imagery in Relief Outlet is confrontational, symbolic, and unapologetically political — designed to shock the reader out of complacency:

“Her body has been pre-appropriated for a specific purpose or task” — introduces the core argument: womanhood as a site of control, not celebration.
“The artificial womb… earmarked for extinction” — a dystopian warning where technology supplants biology, and creation is stripped of sanctity.
“No women allowed in the political arena too, unless one is a trans Illuminati Freemason” — biting satire that highlights the illusion of inclusion in patriarchal hierarchies.
“A manipulation of things being done a ‘certain way’ presented as usual” — captures the normalization of exploitation through repetition and media saturation.
“Where innocence is ritually sacrificed like a throw away consumer product” — devastating in its simplicity, it equates moral decline with mass production.
“For without the female counterbalance, there is only half a lopsided yin-yang” — restores the spiritual dimension, presenting imbalance as both metaphysical and societal tragedy.

The tone is fierce, prophetic, and charged with moral indignation — part social critique, part sacred invocation.

Why It Belongs in the Collection

Within the broader context of the collection, Relief Outlet functions as a vital counterpoint — a call to re-embody the Sacred Feminine that earlier poems like Sovereign Equality and Holy Breadcrumbs foreshadow. It represents the reclamation of a truth that has been systematically suppressed: that love, creation, and consciousness cannot thrive in imbalance. The poem’s unflinching candor ensures that the collection remains not only spiritual but also socially and ethically relevant. It bridges inner awakening with outer activism, reminding readers that the personal and political are inseparable on the path toward higher consciousness.

Final Thoughts / Conclusion

Relief Outlet concludes with a note of redemption — a return to love’s frequency as the only viable path forward. After charting humanity’s descent into exploitation and artificiality, it offers hope in the form of a spiritual awakening rooted in compassion and balance. The poem challenges readers to participate in this reawakening, to restore the equilibrium between masculine and feminine energies, between technology and nature, between intellect and heart. It is both a warning and a benediction — a searing reminder that without the Sacred Feminine, creation itself falters, and that only through the restoration of divine harmony can humanity rediscover its wholeness.

Paula quotes: Q: ‘What are women looking for in men?’ A: ‘Women are looking for men who will honour our uniqueness, who will realise that our gifting is not lesser, is not weaker, it’s just different, it is in fact more comprehensive and it’s essential…. We need more men who will honour and empower women.

Although said with good intentions, Paula has never had a period in his/her life and therefore will never be subject to the hormonal fluctuations that adversely effect a women’s body and emotions against her will.

The huge responsibility of fertility for many women poses a massive imposition upon personal freedom and independence, and also upon emotional autonomy, which many women resent, particularly when surrounded by so much peer-pressure to emulate the behaviour of men, expected to fit into a world designed by men for men, to the exclusion of women’s needs and requirements. Read More: Sexism in the City (Article published in: The Conversation, April 17, 2018).

Germaine Greer points out that men who undergo M to F gender reassignment surgery, after the procedure, they are still essentially: men whom happen to have had gender reassignment surgery. The surgery does not magically transform a man into a woman. The skeleton will always be a male skeletal structure, (no matter how much surgery one engages in). Having surgery is simply changing ones outer envelope, or avatar, like changing a set of clothes, or one’s car. Over focusing upon the outer form is like looking at the finger that points at the stars, instead of looking at the stars themselves. Self-love always begins from within. Gender reassignment surgery can only offer an external cosmetic solution, creating a man-made hybrid gender, that is in addition to male and female, not instead of, deserving of a unique gender classification in its own right. Rather than having to fit into one of two previously existing categories, which for many in search of authenticity, have found could not contain the diversity of the human spirit.

https://youtu.be/H-sXtMZ1xjc

74. Light My Fire

Posted on February 6, 2013 by iPoem

IReview of Light My Fire
Wednesday 6th February 2013

Summary

Light My Fire is an unapologetic declaration of self-worth and empowerment, a powerful and fiery rejection of superficiality and insecurity. In this poem, the speaker cuts through the noise of external expectations and unhealthy relationships, asserting a boundary between their own sense of self and others’ projections. The tone is raw, direct, and somewhat playful—fiercely demanding respect while dismantling shallow desires. It is a call to authenticity and a rejection of anything less than mutual, grounded, and spiritually mature connections.

The poem’s main theme is a self-affirming rebellion against external validation, ego-driven relationships, and superficiality. The speaker refuses to be reduced to an object of desire or admiration and instead insists on deeper, more meaningful exchanges rooted in emotional intelligence and spiritual maturity. There’s a sense of empowerment in reclaiming autonomy—no longer willing to allow others to define their worth or their role in any dynamic.

Why This Poem Matters

“I just can’t waste anymore time playing along / Buying into someone else’s / Half-cocked stupefied illusion…”

This line sets the tone for the entire poem—it’s a call for liberation from the expectations and illusions imposed by others. The speaker is no longer willing to participate in the delusion of waiting for others to change or to see them for who they truly are. The phrase “half-cocked stupefied illusion” perfectly encapsulates the disillusionment with surface-level interactions and ego-driven desires, a theme that runs deep throughout the poem.

The speaker’s rejection of superficial admiration or validation is also a direct challenge to the kind of narcissistic, vanity-based relationships that many engage in, where one person’s insecurities are projected onto another. The line “if something about me makes you feel insecure / Then it’s simply highlighting areas where / You need to love yourself a whole lot more” is a cutting insight into how external insecurity is often a reflection of inner work yet to be done. This line both empowers the speaker and calls out the other person’s emotional shortcomings, further rejecting the idea that they are responsible for another’s emotional instability.

Imagery and Tone

The tone of the poem is blunt, assertive, and sassy—there’s no sugarcoating here. The speaker unapologetically expresses their desire to be seen and respected as an equal, not as an object of someone’s unexamined fantasies. The playful use of “honey bun,” “sweet cheeks,” “sugar plum” creates a juxtaposition between the lightheartedness of affection and the hard-edged reality that the speaker is setting down boundaries.

Lines like “I’m not interested in your paranoid vanity” and “I don’t give a tiny comatose rat’s ass” turn conventional phrases of attraction and desire into something that is both refreshingly irreverent and profoundly grounded in self-respect.

The phrase “If you really wanna light my fire / Then the quickest way is to jump right in / And INSPIRE!” is both a challenge and an invitation. It speaks to a higher ideal of connection: it’s not about playing games, seeking validation, or performing; it’s about inspiration, depth, and emotional intelligence—qualities that demand more than just superficial charm.

Themes and Insights

The poem goes beyond a mere rejection of ego-driven relationships. It presents an ideal vision of what truly matters in relationships and connection—emotional intelligence and spiritual maturity are positioned as the true forms of attraction. The speaker values qualities that help raise the collective vibration of humanity rather than individualistic pursuits of status, power, or shallow affection.

This poem offers a clear vision of the speaker’s desires: a person who is emotionally mature, aligned with purpose, and willing to serve a greater good. These qualities are seen as not only attractive but essential in forming deep, lasting connections. The speaker is asking for a relationship based on shared growth—not one built on insecurity, jealousy, or superficial desire.

In Conclusion

Light My Fire is a bold, empowering declaration of the speaker’s refusal to be boxed into societal expectations or ego-driven, shallow connections. It’s a call for authenticity, emotional maturity, and purposeful connection. The speaker demands that others step into their true selves, free from the weight of superficiality and vanity, and that relationships be built on shared inspiration and mutual respect.

The poem’s fiery tone and direct language drive home the message that self-love, emotional intelligence, and spiritual maturity are the only things worth pursuing. It’s not a rejection of love—it’s a rejection of empty, ego-driven love. Through humor, rebellion, and a clear call to action, Light My Fire urges readers to stop wasting time on superficial connections and start focusing on the deeper, more transformative relationships that serve the greater good. It’s a message of self-respect and empowerment, both for the speaker and anyone willing to take the same bold step toward meaningful connection.

73. Creatrix

Posted on February 2, 2013 by iPoem

Review of Creatrix
Saturday 2nd February 2013

Summary

In Creatrix, the poet taps into the ancient and universal power of the feminine, emphasizing a quiet, transformative awakening that has the potential to shift personal and societal paradigms. This poem explores the disillusionment that comes when we realize the power dynamics at play in our relationships, particularly when those relationships are rooted in imbalance. It highlights the reclamation of self—specifically, the empowerment of women—and the realization that they have never needed the validation or control of others to embody their true power.

The poem moves through personal awakening to collective action, inviting women to reclaim the role of the Creatrix, a primal, sacred energy that has long been suppressed or erased. This reclaiming is a spiritual and revolutionary act, one that not only heals the individual but offers a path to broader transformation. There’s a deep connection to matrilineal power, which the poet portrays as the ultimate creative force behind life itself.

Why This Poem Matters

“So when women wake up to themselves, to / their true potential / What they will see is that they don’t actually need anyone / To be who they really want to be…”

This poem speaks directly to the cultural and historical conditioning that has kept women in subjugation, often by convincing them that their worth or power is tied to external forces—primarily men or societal validation. It turns this idea on its head, revealing the truth that empowerment is already within, and that the reclaiming of this power can radically shift both personal and collective realities.

There’s an unmistakable revolutionary tone in the poem—this is not just about individual empowerment, but about undoing centuries of patriarchal oppression and restoring balance. The message is both a personal revelation and a call to unite for collective liberation. The poet’s reference to the Creatrix invokes the archetype of the divine feminine—an energy that has long been silenced but never extinguished. This awakening, once embraced by enough women, could lead to global healing.

Imagery and Tone

The poem’s imagery is direct and evocative:

“The Great Mother / Who is the ultimate creative power / In the universe” anchors the poem in the archetype of the Mother as a symbol of creation, not just nurturing, but the very source of life.
“Empowered mothers raise empowered offspring” is both a truth about how women shape the future and a call to action—the work of healing and empowering women is not just for today, but for future generations.
The disintegration of relationships upon realizing the imbalanced power dynamics is beautifully conveyed, with an almost tragic irony: the realization that love and respect were conditional, hinged on an illusion of power over the self.

The tone of the poem shifts from revelation to empowerment, moving through disillusionment into an assertion of strength and unity. The line “So when women work together to set themselves free / So shall everyone else be” underscores the interconnectedness of all people, and suggests that the liberation of the feminine is a key to collective freedom.

In Conclusion

“When women work together to set themselves free / So shall everyone else be.”

This poem offers a powerful and necessary message of empowerment and solidarity. It calls women to step into their full creative power—an ancient energy that has always been present but suppressed—and to realize their own divinity and agency. It is both a reclamation of history and an invitation to create a new future, one where the feminine is restored to its rightful place, not only for women but for the benefit of all.

By focusing on the feminine as the source of creation, the poem highlights a truth about the interconnectedness of all things—the liberation of the feminine does not only benefit women but the entire planet. It offers hope for a more balanced, compassionate, and empowered world, one where all can thrive in the fullness of their true potential.

A poignant, urgent, and beautifully written piece, Creatrix is not only a call to women to awaken, but a call to everyone to recognize the profound and universal power of the feminine, and to work toward healing and transformation together.

14. Women’s Appreciation

Posted on September 27, 1997 by iPoem

Women’s Appreciation is a direct and purposeful poem that honours the formative, often overlooked role of women—particularly mothers—as foundational figures in shaping not only individuals, but society at large. The poet draws a clear and vital connection between women’s emotional wellbeing and the health of future generations, advocating for a culture of recognition, empathy, and emotional support.

From its opening line, “Women need to be appreciated,” the poem adopts an unambiguous, declarative tone. This simplicity is not reductive, but intentional—anchoring the piece in clarity and urgency. The poet’s approach is didactic in the best sense of the word: it seeks to teach, not through abstraction, but through a plainspoken truth that invites reflection on deeply ingrained social patterns.

The poem unfolds in a linear progression, tracing the generational cycle from mothers to daughters, and from daughters to the children of the future. This lineage is not merely biological but symbolic of how belief systems, emotional patterns, and attitudes are unconsciously transmitted. The statement that mothers are “responsible / For all our inherited attitudes and beliefs / About ourselves and the world” expands the scope of the poem beyond familial appreciation to a broader cultural and psychological awareness.

The poet gently but firmly underscores the impact of maternal wellbeing: “So show empathy and consideration to a woman / So that she may appreciate herself.” This moment is central. It shifts responsibility outward—to society, partners, families—to recognise that a woman’s ability to see her own worth is often shaped by how she is treated by others. This social mirroring is depicted not as a weakness but as an interdependent truth of human development and identity formation.

Stylistically, the poem uses free verse and simple, unembellished diction to deliver its message. There is no ornamentation or flourish—only a sincere, measured cadence that suits the subject matter. The lack of punctuation invites the reader to experience the poem as a continuous stream of thought, mirroring the continuity of generational influence the poem describes.

The closing lines are particularly effective in linking the personal to the collective. The poem proposes a vision of future generations as “emotionally well-balanced adults / Projecting their enthusiasm and joy / Positivity and effectiveness into this world.” These qualities are presented not as idealised abstractions, but as the practical outcome of nurturing and valuing women. In contrast, the consequences of failing to do so—“resentment, regret, or lament”—are mentioned quietly but powerfully, a subtle reminder of the social cost of emotional neglect.

In conclusion, Women’s Appreciation is a quietly powerful call to action, grounded in compassion and social insight. It invites the reader to consider the ripple effects of emotional support, generational influence, and the importance of validating women’s roles—not just in the private realm of motherhood, but in the shaping of collective consciousness. The poem’s strength lies in its clarity, sincerity, and its refusal to separate personal healing from social change.