Feminine Enough
No need of anybody's validations
Like temple bells,
the house reverberates
with giggles
of two little kids.
Not mandatory,
but if you want,
having children
is one pinnacle of femininity,
wouldn’t you agree?
But more than once
my spouse has told me,
“You are not feminine.”
Why? Well—
I don’t grow my hair long,
don’t wear cosmetics,
not a single piece ornament
on my torso.
I don’t take anyone’s
permission, manipulation.
I argue if needed,
know my rights.
I do art, read, write
expose society's blights.
I am not religious,
except for my devotion to nature.
I forgive him,
for he is only parroting
what society tells him
femininity is.
Alas, many women who do,
all those feminine things,
are battling infertility.
With lack of awareness,
on body and mind,
some have messed up,
so much so that
marriage is falling apart,
sickness knocking at the door,
on mental-health pills.
Coming from
patriarchy-soaked in india,
what does he know
what femininity is?
He will say wrong of course.
He has seen women in
his family,
with vermillion and veils,
anklets, and bangles.
nodding to their men,
just to avoid confrontation,
and not to be punished.
Resisting exploitation,
temptation too,
feeling empathy, showing kindness,
forgiving when needed,
building own life,
nurturing others too,
that is feminine to me,
which I have enough,
no need of anybody's validations.
About the Creator
Seema Patel
I am Seema. I contribute to PubMed, Blogger, Medium, LinkedIn, Substack, Amazon KDP, Vocal Media.
I write on nature, health, parenting, creativity, gardening, social issues.
My art shop: https://artsforhealinggifts.etsy.com
Keep reading
More stories from Seema Patel and writers in Poets and other communities.
Art is My Meditation
art is a meditation you feel cleaned and anchored well with eyes open wide. Meditation has earned recognition as a mindfulness tool. It does not work for me. But I find spiritual cleansing and deep focusing with my creativity. Art is my meditation.
By Seema Patelabout a month ago in Poets
No Word Comes Near Enough
The English language has its limits. I learned this when I became a student of the Bible and looked up the Greek and Hebrew definitions behind the Scriptures I loved. Some languages have so much more depth and power than the one I use to convey my thoughts. But, even so, I don't think any word could ever come close to describing this void and pain I am journeying through. I don't know how to swim through its murky waters.
By Shirley Belk4 days ago in Poets
Comments (14)
Women's rights are human rights! Stellar poem, Seema.
Congratulations on the TS!! 🎉🎉
Seema, you are strong and wise. And you're right, he only knows of the version of femininity that has been indoctrinated in his upbringing. A woman is fierce and audacious, and holds her own. Your poem lives this.
Seema, reading this makes me admire your strength and clarity. Your definition of femininity is so grounded and authentic,I feel like I’m seeing the world through your eyes.
Beautifully written.
💕💕Congratulations 🎊 for your Top Story 🎊
Yes!!! Love this!! The very idea of men knowing better than women what femininity is boggles the mind.
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Well said, Seema! You are most definitely feminine enough. You are a beautiful person whose beauty extends far beyond the obvious surface level. I am not religious either, but nature is surely where I turn for guidance. I believe many answers await us there if only we tune in and listen, not only for direction, but for what our earth is trying to teach us about our duties to this planet. Congratulations on a beautiful top story❣🌹
The line where your spouse tells you “you are not feminine” honestly made my chest tighten, especially when you followed it with how confidently you list the ways you live, think, and resist. I kept thinking about how exhausting it must be to keep forgiving someone for “parroting society” while still standing your ground, and how powerful it is that you redefine femininity through empathy, boundaries, and building your own life instead of ornaments and silence. It made me reflect on how often femininity gets framed as compliance rather than courage. Did writing this feel more like reclaiming a word that was used against you, or finally letting go of needing it at all?
You are a credit to everything you stand for 🦋💙🦋
You are beautiful inside and out. Hugs to you. Rule the world Meditate and be you. Cheers.
Shoot, look at all the money you save him by NOT wearing make-up. That stuff has to be replaced every 6-9 months, AND if you buy the cheap stuff, no telling what's in it or what it'll do to your skin....
We're feminine is our own way and we don't have to follow anyone's definition of feminine. Loved how empowering your poem is!