Jane Dougherty

It's desperate. Everything seems so awful, ugly and ignorant.

It used to be expected that one of the girls would never marry and exist just to look after aging parents. Parents now think they're bringing up their children impartially, but that too often means girl = princess boy = prince, and we know how those stories play out.

I can imagine. Even urban Italy is difficult for women. It's so hard to change a system when it means some have to give up their absolute power. They won't do it, and not enough women teach anything but dominance to their sons.

Not enough women take it seriously or see it as an issue. Too many mothers all over little boys and letting them do/be what they want, even if that includes shoving the girls completely out of the picture.

I still see it in schools, how the teachers favour the boys, let them answer, excuse them when they're rowdy and generally shout at the girls for 'chattering at the back'. Girls should be seen but not heard and never ever answer back. Makes me furious.

Thanks Debbie. It's our specific and universal experience. And it's time it stopped.

There seems to be so little humanity or compassion. Just a whole lot of ugly, selfish ignorance.

How we can treat creatures that look as though they share the best of us, so cruelly is staggering.

It frightens me.

Yes, there are always good people, no matter how dark the times, but what frightens me is the strength of this masculinist backlash among the Gen Zedders. They are the future, but their boomer parents and grandparents are more progressive than they are.

💙

Much more perceptive than most of us!

Knowing that you are being watched possibly by a predator is what all girls are aware of from being small. It is a terrible indictment of our society.

Thanks, David. One step forward, two steps back...

It is, isn't it? Why are men so afraid of sharing this space?

It's been around for so long, and we don't do enough to oppose it.

And set to stay true for a very long time, I bet.

Brilliant!

So little time this week, but remembered this very old one which sort of fits the @thebrokenspine.co.uk #PoemsAbout theme #BeingWatched Will try to catch up later.

I think the fox is right.

A fox stops in my path and studies me with the cold patience of something that knew this hillside before roads. Eye to eye his narrow amber blade resting against the soft circle of mine. He holds me there. For a moment I feel it my bones rearranging into something clumsy. My breath too loud. My bare skin foolish to the air. A tall creature arguing with sky and ground. He studies me a moment longer before releasing my eyes. As if I’m the creature misplaced in time.

For #PoemsAbout #BeingWatched
Thank you @alanparrywriter.co.uk @thebrokenspine.co.uk

Love those last lines, so gentle.

Good morning and many thanks @thebrokenspine.co.uk and @alanparrywriter.co.uk for your intriguing #PoemsAbout prompt #BeingWatched. This isn't new but I hope it fits the bill. Looking forward to reading everyone else's contributions #PoetryCommunity #BlueSkyPoets

This is so gut-wrenchingly sad.

@thebrokenspine.co.uk #PoemsAbout #BeingWatched This really happened. Heartbreaking. Published 1st in Zoo (Dreich 2021)

Orangutan: Newquay Zoo

You winked
maybe
through smeared pane
your leather palm
pushed to mine
loss in your eyes
maybe
a holy palmer’s kiss
a tragedy.

Sarah O' Grady

Poem: We Watch and Whisper How can a look be felt as a touch-- spine-tingled, hair-raised, a vestige of prehistory, predator and prey. Now eyes-in-the-sky and Big Brother all around, our private lives scanned and screened, everyone watches as the predators swagger, free.

Good morning, Poets! This #PoemsAbout #BeingWatched was another difficult challenge for me. Thank you as always to @alanparrywriter.co.uk and @thebrokenspine.co.uk

This world is going down the pan so fast now...

I haven't done this for a while, but after hearing the shameful figures about the tsunami of masculism in our enlightened world, I felt moved to say something.
#PoemsAbout #BeingWatched
@thebrokenspine.co.uk

Thank you, Paul 💙 I hope the book finds lots of readers I'm proud of it.

Um...historcal fantasy?