Strong Woman

This is the last poem of the Sister Series, the series of celebrating individual women and sharing their beauty through poetry. After I started writing poems, I felt a draw to write a collective poem for the women in my life. This poem is Strong Woman–for even though I may not know you, this poem was also written about you.

I drew some women that are especially prominent in this season of my life, while there are also many others not pictured. I hope that you enjoyed this series, and felt closer to the women that are within your life. Send them a note, a string of text, or a physical embrace.

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Strong Woman

by Regan Smith

• • •

I admire how she boldly 
explores the mysteries, 
extending herself into the unknown 
taking on an endeavor to learn, 
forever a student. 

I see how she takes the circumstances 
of stone and spins them to gold; 
this treasure of wisdom and truth
is not held with clenched hands–oh 
how she shares her wealth of wisdom with joy. 
I know, because I’ve been on the receiving 
end of her great generosity. 

With these same unclenched hands, 
she pulls handfuls of hope directly from the heavens–
her intentionality surpassing this realm.

Not a day goes by where her 
presence is not felt; for her impact is
breathed in and out, and recycled again– 
giving strength and life to brittle lungs; 
caring for even the trees, she’s always
morphing and shaping to meet the needs of 
of others, of herself. 

She is the night bird, singing praises 
of the day’s promise, even when it’s still dark, 
sharing words of joy through her tongue, her pen, her song. 

For she knows, that to be meek and gentle 
is to be strong and courageous.

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Rachel W.

I have the honor of knowing several Rachels, all unique in different ways. Rachel W. is no exception–and I’m thrilled to share this poem with you. This poem that’s a part of the Sister Series, a series of celebrating individual women and sharing their beauty through poetry.

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Rachel W.

by Regan Smith

• • •

The earth laughs in flowers, 
a sweet script of poetry 
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote. 

If the earth laughs in flowers, 
then she must surely be the 
heavens smiling; created with the 
colored lens of joy, kindness; 
a great gift to the earth. 

And with her ivy green eyes, 
she fully embodies the stature of 
Yarrow flower–for her warmth, 
soft smile, and laughter can heal
even the deepest wounds.

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Rachel B.

This is poem that’s a part of the Sister Series, a series of celebrating individual women and sharing their beauty through poetry; this poem is written to my sweet sister-in-law, Rachel.

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Rachel B.

by Regan Smith

• • •

Her heart is clear blue water–
where sunlight dances on the surface, 
translucent and trusted. 

Tied to all other bodies of water, 
she notices and feels each ripple, 
each wave, tsunami, and storm; 
she absorbs the waves and tides, 
offering herself as solace, and 
shares in their joy when the waves
are quiet and calm. 

And still, a drink is needed, 
fields are thirsty and land is drying up;
for even in the places where 
she can’t reach, she’ll offer herself as rain.

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Joni

This is poem that’s a part of the Sister Series, a series of celebrating individual women and sharing their beauty through poetry. Joni is an incredible soul, always pushing to extend her exposure, always pushing towards growth.

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joni

by Regan Smith

• • •

Walking along a path in the forest, 
her carefree heart makes me remember how 
the flowers don’t have to worry about their petals; 
she is this scripture, a psalm, a field of poppies, personified. 

She stops to sit on a tree that has fallen, and begins to write poetry;
sparrows sing, for when such inspiration is penned to paper, 
it is a glorious creation. She pulls her pen up from the paper 
to admire the wildflowers. They share the same honesty–
inherently full of lively flourish, overflowing with joy, love. 

But just as the wildflower started as a seedling, 
her carefree cheer has effloresced,
through her ever-growing courage.

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Nicole N.

Nicole N is an inspiring force. This poem, written with her as the subject a part of the Sister Series, a series of celebrating individual women and sharing their beauty through poetry.

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nicole n.

by Regan Smith

• • •

I was with her once, 
sipping tea, discussing the depths 
of our minds, the strangeness of dreams; 
but I know that this was only a brief encounter, 
for she lives in many worlds. 

She lives in galaxies, making her home in a
crater in the moon; she lives in a fairy forest; 
or among the sand in the middle of an ocean, 
maybe a home in one of her worlds is an 
open-aired room, thick with incense.  

But in every scene, there is a commonality; 
she creates fearlessly, passionately–
surrounded by great beauty; she is never alone.  

She’s met with an omnipresent force, which fills 
her to the brim with joy; whether she creates stars 
or streams or galaxies or poetry, it all resonates 
with others deeper than Marianas Trench. 

But if she never created another seedling, 
never wrote another word–even if she never 
spoke another sound, her warmth radiates; 
her joy is still contagious and creates mindscapes 
of moons of dreams and mountains of hope in others. 

She is fully seen, fully known, fully loved 
for purely her existence.

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Brandi

This is a poem that’s a part of the Sister Series, a series of celebrating individual women and sharing their beauty through poetry. This poem is titled, Brandi, after a sunshine of a soul.

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brandi

by Regan Smith

• • •

Her thoughts are a garden, 
exposing a glorious song. 

During the day, she diligently sows seeds
and during nighttime she draws her flowers: 
the Black-Eyed Susan, White Wood Aster, 
the myriad of Goldenrod blooms. 

She wrangles snakes, pulling them 
out of her garden, grasping their bodies 
right behind the eyes; she holds no fear–
for although she’s been bitten before, 
familiar to the feeling of poison in her skin–

she now holds authority, victory over all: 
depression turned to dreams, 
anxiety turned to assurance, 
her thoughts now at full bloom.

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