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Sunshine
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Listening to every heart

0 posted 2005-04-29 10:30 AM



Thin Ribbons ~ Secret Times

Centuries
Have covered up
Our past.
No one knew,
Until recently
That a silent language
Existed fast
In cryptic writing’s
Mystery.

Our men said,
In their way,
“No word from you,
No reading, no say…
Nothing will ever
Give you the right
To read, or write
Into the night”

Such as it was,
Still, our souls
Gathered dreams,
And wove our goals
Characters of
Chinese worth
Gained a slant,
Became our earth.

Nu Shu was
Our story’s soul,
Our poet’s dream,
Which kept us
Whole.

Traditional writing
Followed, it is true
But with a slant
Hardly left a clue…
We talked of times
Hardships, want,
Marriages arranged,
And controlling taunts.

No one knew for
The longest time
Almost, almost,
We spoke in mime;
We spoke in forever
With a twist of twine
Secret scripts of
Secret times.

Altered scripts and
Altered weave
Gave us gifts
We would not leave;
Now they build
A memory
In honor of women
And memories weave.

~*~

In a summation of some National Geographic Selections, I read [a year ago] today a very small article of the women of Jiangyong, China who, forbidden to learn to read or write, came up with a way to pass on their songs, their poetry and stories, in their own form, and created “Nu Shu”.  They slanted "traditional writing", giving it a wispy, artistic look.  Their men, for the longest time, never discovered how their own words, and actions, were used to describe how their lives would be recorded in time.  

How fortunate we are.



© Copyright 2005 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved
Gentle Spirit
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since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989

1 posted 2005-04-29 10:35 AM


indeed dear Lady..

thank you for this, it is thus marked

LeeJ
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since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

2 posted 2005-04-29 10:37 AM


when I started reading this, immediately thought of the code...and ya know, it would give a whole new meaning to the word explaination, if even a hint of it were true, wouldn't it...sounds like a world conspiracy to me...I don't believe for one minute, God meant for woman suffrage.

Well exicuted and thought out, this was one of those poems that stay with you throughout the day, feeding a sublimital message....thank you once again, for your articulate reflections

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348
Florida
3 posted 2005-04-29 10:37 AM


Very nice Kari!

"too bad ignorance isn't painful"
~Unknown~

Martie
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since 1999-09-21
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4 posted 2005-04-29 12:02 PM


Sissie

I do like what LeeJ Said:  "thank you once again, for your articulate reflections"  I thank you too...very interesting and always so beautiful, just like you!  

Sunshine
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Listening to every heart
5 posted 2005-04-29 12:13 PM


Thank you, Ladies.

The whole idea of this brings to mind not only the ladies of China...

but of other origins, as well.  Just think of the artistry of the past in basket weaving, rug and blanket weaving, the patterns of the past, all telling stories...

insignia of bygone times seen in quilling, feather stitching, let alone later day needlework...all leaving behind some example of communication.

What can I say, but....

write on!

Ratleader
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6 posted 2005-04-29 01:02 PM


How fortunate indeed.....because of this, and because of what our written tradition has become -- PiP, for instance....

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

passing shadows
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since 1999-08-26
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displaced
7 posted 2005-04-29 04:07 PM


I think I will subscribe to National Geographic again!

Excellent write!

Nightshade
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just out of reach
8 posted 2005-04-29 04:23 PM


Fortunate indeed we are Karilea.
Thankyou for this. hugs, Chrislane

Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.
~Carl Sandburg

Enchantress
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since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
9 posted 2005-04-29 04:42 PM


How fortunate we are indeed Karilea..
I'm so glad you posted this.
Love ya hip-sis!

~Somewhere in my heart I'm always
dancing with you in the summer rain ~

ice
Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404
Pennsylvania
10 posted 2005-04-29 06:41 PM


The equal rights amendment (ERA) needs three more states to ratify and then it becomes law....It has been kicked around since 1923....when it becomes law it will be a great thing for all people, men and women...

This poem reminds me of womens struggle here in our own country...

Well done Kari....

----------ice/ford
   ><>

ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353
Michigan, USA
11 posted 2005-05-01 12:50 PM


How pure to write the art of living as art.
What a wonderful share Karilea. Superb.
TD

Seymour Tabin
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since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
12 posted 2005-05-01 01:43 PM


Sunshine
Well done and a delight to read.

DavePage
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since 2003-12-21
Posts 2917

13 posted 2005-05-01 03:29 PM


Sunshine

The winners write the books and consider the country now and only very recently did anyone not need "permission to marry" or to move from the rural with even now, no-one allowed to move beyond a propoganda machine.

Women like men are people, good, bad or evil - bored press now seems to be the definitive minute majority

My mother always said to me "why do I want equal rights", I've got my own way for years.

It doesn't diminish the need for a balanced honest society but it does understand how society works and the words of few dont determined the works of many

dave

Margherita
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since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
14 posted 2005-05-01 03:48 PM


Women are smart!

A beautiful tribute to those who had to find their own way of communication.

Dave, what you refer regarding your mother, reminds me of my own. When women had not yet the right to vote in Switzerland, she always said that she had always influenced her husband convincing him of her own opinion. Woman Power was strong even before they were given rights by the authorities.

Love,
Margherita

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