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.
I want to convey the magical, special All loving feeling
The Earth’s body is part of my own And I am Her child
Will be returned to Her when I die She invited me to explore
I was powerless to resist Like a child, knew no fear
A totally comforting experience I felt drawn into Her silent canopy
Each tree a tower of wisdom Powerful, yet so-gentle spirits
Each of them loving, friendly Knowing so much more than me
Pathways kept opening-up for me to explore This way, come this way, or this…
I felt compelled to follow deep, deeper Into the forest Shape and forms evolving From fallen trunks and roots
Women, leaning out of the Earth Or being drawn back into Her
Hips, thighs and shoulders easily imagined Very female, though trees had a maleness
Venturing forth from the protection of the Earth’s Crust, breaking into the outer-dimension…
I felt honoured, lucky and special To receive the knowledge and the guidance
That She bestowed upon me I wish now that I had spent longer with Her
Before returning to the other world Where I am from
My world had lost it’s attraction I now favoured the forest to the world with people
Here the moss was so soft underfoot It was like the earth was moving, breathing
Everything was sliding down the hill Including me, standing on Her skin
Trees, sticking-out-like-hairs Roots clinging like fingers clawing for a better grip
Trying to hold their ground As the earth shifts and loosens
It felt so normal being able to know And talk with the trees, with the land
To understand Her secrets, intuitively I knew That all the trees were sliding down the hillside
That the earth was as soft as sourdough And as springy as sponge cake
So their roots could not hold onto anything And they all had no choice
But to ripple downwards Down the mountainside
Towards the water at the bottom Some toppled over and fell
Casualties of the forest I sat with them, calm and silent
Comforted, nourished Befriended and welcomed
Invited to share mystic-secrets, I accepted Not even a consideration, an adventure! ✩ ___ Forest is a lush, evocative exploration of connection to nature, imbued with a deep sense of reverence and spiritual communion with the Earth. Through its dreamlike imagery and flowing narrative, the poem speaks to the speaker’s visceral experience within the forest—a sacred space where the boundary between self and nature dissolves, and wisdom, guidance, and profound love are received from the natural world.
The opening lines establish the poem’s spiritual and sensory focus: “I want to convey the magical, special / All loving feeling.” This sets the tone for the piece, inviting the reader into an experience of awe and wonder, while also suggesting that the words themselves may only offer a glimpse of the deeper reality the poet is trying to express. The poem’s structure mimics the sense of a flowing, uninterrupted experience, with its lack of punctuation creating a seamless flow from thought to thought, much like the natural world itself—unfolding organically and without artifice.
The speaker’s identification with the Earth is immediate and profound: “The Earth’s body is part of my own / And I am Her child.” This connection to the Earth is not presented abstractly but as a bodily, intimate union, where the poet feels both nurtured and called by nature. The lines “Will be returned to Her when I die / She invited me to explore” evoke both a spiritual return to the Earth and an invitation to experience its mysteries with humility and wonder. The speaker’s youthful, innocent curiosity is conveyed through the phrase “knew no fear,” which evokes a childlike trust and receptivity to the forest’s teachings.
The imagery that follows is rich and visceral, with trees personified as “powerful, yet so gentle spirits,” embodying wisdom and guidance. The notion of the forest as a living, breathing entity is reinforced through the metaphors of “moss” that “was so soft underfoot” and the Earth’s “skin,” which provides an organic, sensory connection to the landscape. The feeling of being drawn into the forest is not passive; the speaker is a willing participant in the unfolding experience, responding to the “pathways” that “kept opening up for me to explore.” This sense of invitation and discovery provides the poem with an almost magical quality, reinforcing the idea that nature itself is a teacher, welcoming and instructing the speaker with gentle yet profound messages.
The personification of the trees as female (“Very female, though trees had a maleness”) adds a layer of complexity to the natural imagery, suggesting a balance between feminine and masculine energies within the forest ecosystem. The forest is both nurturing and dynamic, providing space for both growth and decay, as reflected in the description of the trees “clinging like fingers clawing for a better grip” as they “slide down the mountainside.” This visualisation of movement within the forest—its roots slipping, trees toppling, and the Earth itself “shifting and loosening”—emphasises nature’s constant flux and interconnection, and the natural cycles of life, death, and rebirth.
One of the poem’s most poignant moments comes towards the end, when the speaker reflects on their time in the forest: “I wish now that I had spent longer with Her.” The speaker’s longing to remain in this sacred space speaks to the transformative power of nature, a power that reorients the speaker’s understanding of their own world and priorities. The contrast between the spiritual richness of the forest and the mundane “other world” from which the speaker came reflects a deep disenchantment with human society and its disconnection from the natural world.
The closing lines, where the speaker is “comforted, nourished / Befriended and welcomed” by the forest, underscore the poem’s central theme of communion and belonging. The forest is not a passive backdrop, but an active, embracing force, offering wisdom and solace to the speaker. By the end, the forest becomes not just a place, but a living, breathing teacher—a space for spiritual discovery, healing, and revelation.
In conclusion, Forest is a lush, sensuous meditation on the profound connection between human beings and the natural world. Through rich, tactile imagery and a dreamlike, flowing structure, the poet effectively conveys a deep spiritual experience of unity with the Earth. The poem evokes both the beauty and the power of nature, as well as its role as a teacher and guide, offering comfort, knowledge, and a sense of belonging. The speaker’s journey into the forest is both an exploration of the external world and an inward journey toward spiritual clarity and understanding.
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