I am Every Woman

A woman is beauty innate,

A symbol of power and strength.

She puts her life at stake,

She's real, she's not fake!

The summer of life she's ready to see in spring.

She says, "Spring will come again, my dear.

Let me care for the ones who're near.”

She's The Woman – she has no fear!

Strong is she in her faith and beliefs.

"Persistence is the key to everything,"

says she. Despite the sighs and groans and moans,

She's strong in her faith, firm in her belief!

She's a lioness; don't mess with her.

She'll not spare you if you're a prankster.

Don't ever try to saw her pride, her self-respect.

She knows how to thaw you, saw you – so beware!

She's today's woman. Today's woman, dear.

Love her, respect her, keep her near...

- Rakhi Nariani Shirke

This poem talks about the multifaceted nature of women. Today's women are empowered, brave, strong and resolute. They are always ready to take up new ventures. They are persistent and work tirelessly to prove what they are capable of. Women have to be treated respectfully for the growth of a nation.

About the author

Rakhi Nariani Shirke is an academician with a passion for writing poems as a medium of self-expression. She is a postgraduate, with a bachelor’s degree in Education.

Glossary

innate (adj) - inborn and natural

stake (n) - risk

persistence (n) - determination

sigh (v) - expressing grief

mess with (p) - to tease or play a joke

prankster (n) - a person who acts mischievous

groans (v) - complaints and grumbles

moans (v) – grieves

Read the lines and answer the questions.

1. The summer of life she's ready to see in spring.

She says, "Spring will come again, my dear

Let me care for the ones who're near.”

a) What does the word summer mean here?

Ans: Summer here means the woman’s optimistic approach at tough times. She is ready for development.

b) How does she take life?

Ans: She takes life optimistically, hopeful, and confident about the future.

c) What does she mean by “spring will come again”?

Ans: In the phrase “spring will come again”, the poet means that the future will be better.

2. Strong is she in her faith and belief.

“Persistence is the key to everything,” says she.

a) What is she strong about?

Ans: Woman is strong about her faith and belief.

b) How does she deal with the adversities in life?

Ans: She is strong in her faith and belief and is determined while dealing with adversities.

3. Despite the sighs and groans and moans,

She's strong in her faith, firm in her belief!

a) Is she complaining about the problems of life?

Ans: No. She is not complaining about the problems of life.

b) Pick out the words that show her grit.

Ans: Strong and Firm

4. Don't ever try to saw her pride, her self-respect.

She knows how to thaw you, saw you – so beware!

a) What do the words thaw and saw mean here?

Ans: Thaw and saw mean here that, woman will destroy those, who saw her pride and self-respect.

b) What is the tone of the author?

Ans: The tone of the author is very cautious.

5. She's today's woman. Today's woman dear.

Love her, respect her, keep her near...

a) Describe today's woman according to the poet.

Ans: Today’s woman is determined about the future, ready to take risks and is strong in her faith and beliefs.

b) How should a woman be treated?

Ans: A woman should be treated with love and respect.

Read the lines and identify the figure of speech.

1. A woman is beauty innate,

A symbol of power and strength.

She puts her life at stake,

She's real, she's not fake!

a) Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines.

Ans: stake, fake

b) Add another word that rhymes with it.

Ans: take

c) Give the rhyme scheme for the above lines.

Ans: abcc

2. She's a lioness; don't mess with her.

She'll not spare you if you're a prankster.

a) Pick out the line that has a metaphor in it.

Ans: She’s a lioness

b) Give your examples of metaphor to describe the qualities of a woman.

Ans: She is sun to those who saw here pride and self-respect

3. She's strong in her faith, firm in her belief.

a) Pick out the alliterated words from the above.

Ans: faith, firm

b) Pick out other alliterated words from the poem.

symbol-strength ; summer-see ; saw-self-respect

Fill in with a word in each blanks to complete the summary of the poem. Use the help box given below.

dignified  

healthier  

today's  

persistent  

care

symbol  

innate  

fake  

adversity  

hope

life  

disgrace  

prankster  

woman  

near

faith  

optimistic  

quitter  

thaw  

respect

lioness  

fear  

beliefs  

self-respect  

saw

strength

Every woman is beautiful innate She is the symbol of power and strength She is prone to put her life at risk. Every woman is true in expressing her love and she is never fake. She is very optimistic in her approach even at times of adversity she finds a ray of hopeand she continues to care for her dignified ones. She is the woman, and she has no fear. She is forceful in her faith and belief She is never a quitterand she is persistent She is ferocious like a lionessit's better for the prankster to stay away from her. Never should one try to bring disgrace to her pride and self-respectfor she knows how to thaw and saw them. She is today’swoman. It is healthier to love her respect her and to keep her near.