Poetry Writing Radio

Woman:

Linda Belans, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

Then

Denied promotion for poking a paradigm.

Fired for speaking truth to power.

Fired for having "Too much power."

Threatened: “Stop shooting from the hip.”

Rebuked for asking for a raise: “Be grateful you have this journalism job.”

Rejected by a Master’s journalism program for low GRE math scores.

Shamed: "You will never qualify to own a home."

Rebuffed: “You will never afford to retire.”

Admonished at 67: "Aren't you too old to start a doctoral program?"

Questioned at 70: What do you mean you're a dancer?"

Each warning, denial, firing, rebuke, rejection, shaming, rebuff, admonishment, questioning was wounding, sometimes paralyzing. Sometimes sent me to bed.

Nevertheless…

Eventually,

I was promoted, he got fired.

The hip-shooting boss ceased fire: “I'll stop when you tell men to do the same.”

Received equal pay at a newspaper of record.

Hosted an award-winning radio program.

Earned a doctorate.

Now.

I choose how much work I want to do.

Wrote these words in the sunlit home that I own.

Feel grateful to dance the work of choreographers I have long admired.

Penned a book about creating equitable, compassionate schools.

Ongoing...

Supporting women claiming space and voice..