Happy New Year to all my Poetry Friday friends! As I was entering important dates into my new desk calendar, I discovered that, by pure coincidence, I am hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup on International Women’s Day (March 8th). I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate the day by sharing poems that honor women. These could be original poems or poems written by others. They could be poems about an important woman in your life who deserves to be celebrated, someone famous, an unsung woman of historical significance, or a poem by your favorite female poet. The choice is yours. So please feel free to participate (or not) in any way that feels right to you. I’ll post a few reminders between now and March 8th.
The theme of this year’s celebration is #BalanceforBetter. In 2017, I wrote this poem celebrating the women in my life who helped me be a better person. (You can read the original post here.)
Strong women taught me
how to knit, to bake,
to cook and sew.
Strong women taught me
how to love, to live
through strife and woe.
Strong women taught me
not to count
on others for my bread.
Strong women taught me
to rely
on my own wits instead.
Strong women taught me
to be brave when lies
and hate are spread.
Strong women taught me
how to think, to stand
for what is right.
Strong women taught me
to be kind, to fill
the world with light.
© Catherine Flynn, 2017
Please be sure to visit Sylvia Vardell at Poetry for Children for the Poetry Friday Roundup.
Reading to the Core 
OH, do I love this post. And you know who would too? ER! I’m so “in” for something to share on this date about strong women. Don’t know what yet. But, I am. I miss so many women in my life….my family has lost its elder women first. So, I’m actually one of the “elders” now. I don’t like that. So, I do love celebrating the strength passed on to me. What a wonderful post, Catherine. Happy New Year!
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Such a beautiful balance to create strength of character. Definitely a good balance! Love your idea for International Women’s Day.
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You, dear Catherine, are one of those strong women. Thank you! And what a fun Roundup March 8 will be. xo
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It’s a wonderful idea, Catherine. I’m grateful for the strong women in my life. Your poem touched me in all those ways, too. How fortunate we are!
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I love the repetitive refrain of these strong women. This is a wonderful tribute!
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I love that last verse especially, Catherine – and that fabulous photograph!
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I love the idea of celebrating strong women through poetry on March 8. I’m glad, too, to have time to ponder the possibilities. Your poem is a testament to the strong women in your life.
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I love your poem, especially the repetition and the final verse, and I am intrigued by your March 8th idea. I’ll start pondering!
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I love seeing you three strong women. And yesterday, I wept to see Nancy Pelosi’s granddaughter look at her with such excitement and admiration.
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Your poem remind me of one I wrote about my aunt and my nieces. Strong women is a great idea for Moarch and I have it on my calendar.
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Thanks for the call to poems about women. This will be a great roundup. I still love this poem about the strong women in your life, a beautiful tribute.
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Beautiful “strong” poem from top to bottom Catherine. I’d love to add a poem about “strong women” for your roundup. Thanks for sharing the lovey pic too!
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Three cheers for strong women! How lucky to be surrounded by strong women, and translate that into a poem.
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I have added this optional theme to the Kidlitosphere listing of PF Hosts. I’ll add it on our blog, too. Great idea! Thanks for helping us plan ahead! I’ll start a page in my notebook for ideas!
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Thank you, Mary Lee!
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Catherine, I have already bookmarked the date that you host Poetry Friday. I think writing about strong women is definitely a positive move so I am in”. Thanks for organizing this and starting the ball rolling with your poem. I come from a line of strong women so I appreciate your words, especially:
Strong women taught me
how to love, to live
through strife and woe.
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