A Silent Woman
A Silent Woman 480 words, 1990©
By Sue Real
One day I heard sounds that woke me up and made me think.
The sounds forced me to question if I were a “real” woman.
I overheard two women talking in a waiting room of a movie theatre. Besides their speech, each woman had a special sound she made when she moved. The older woman had a purse which made a snip, snip noise when she opened and closed her bag.
The younger one was spraying an intoxicating floral scent that filled the air and it followed me around the room, Swoosh Swoosh, Ah!
Both women wore jewelry that also made sounds, one like tiny bells, and the other had a bracelet made of silver seashells that clanked together. Ring, ring! Clank, Clank!
Women like these, a tall blonde with a deep tan, in winter white cotton and the other, a woman of color with braided dark hair, in a festive floral print dress, must be the kind of women most people think of when the word woman is spoken.
I am a woman of no sounds – I don’t wear high heels, that click-click, click-click on the pavement. My step, in soft leather shoes, is almost undetectable.
I wear no jewelry that tinkles or rings; I am a woman of no sounds.
What do they think of me? Or do they think of me al all??
I am silent, yet, I posses a presence, like a plant growing quietly, but with strength.
People turn around to look at me, but they don’t know why. This presence has nothing to do with size although I am tall and large.
I have learned that I can use this presence to make people take notice or to make myself f invisible. I can tell that some people are uncomfortable around me but do not know why, I try to be real, that’s all.
A friend once described it as a cretin “Knowingness”. I don not know if it is natural or acquired. I believe that all people have this quality, but they disguise it because they fear the power.
So they hide it with perfume; noisy jewelry, and by talking loudly about nothing, and wildly waiving their arms.
All of their accouterment is part of the costume, part of the mask that distracts and diverts others from finding out what is really going on inside their head.
Women don’t be afraid, be bold.
Personal power should be used to fulfill our dreams, quietly.
There is no need to make a splash just proceed, and find your bliss.
Discover your pride and your power.
Be yourself, there is no need for sound effects.
Be still and hear the inner voice of inspiration,
Be real and find yourself and your dreams silently and
You will be noticed even more than if you rang a thousand bells.
By Sue Real
One day I heard sounds that woke me up and made me think.
The sounds forced me to question if I were a “real” woman.
I overheard two women talking in a waiting room of a movie theatre. Besides their speech, each woman had a special sound she made when she moved. The older woman had a purse which made a snip, snip noise when she opened and closed her bag.
The younger one was spraying an intoxicating floral scent that filled the air and it followed me around the room, Swoosh Swoosh, Ah!
Both women wore jewelry that also made sounds, one like tiny bells, and the other had a bracelet made of silver seashells that clanked together. Ring, ring! Clank, Clank!
Women like these, a tall blonde with a deep tan, in winter white cotton and the other, a woman of color with braided dark hair, in a festive floral print dress, must be the kind of women most people think of when the word woman is spoken.
I am a woman of no sounds – I don’t wear high heels, that click-click, click-click on the pavement. My step, in soft leather shoes, is almost undetectable.
I wear no jewelry that tinkles or rings; I am a woman of no sounds.
What do they think of me? Or do they think of me al all??
I am silent, yet, I posses a presence, like a plant growing quietly, but with strength.
People turn around to look at me, but they don’t know why. This presence has nothing to do with size although I am tall and large.
I have learned that I can use this presence to make people take notice or to make myself f invisible. I can tell that some people are uncomfortable around me but do not know why, I try to be real, that’s all.
A friend once described it as a cretin “Knowingness”. I don not know if it is natural or acquired. I believe that all people have this quality, but they disguise it because they fear the power.
So they hide it with perfume; noisy jewelry, and by talking loudly about nothing, and wildly waiving their arms.
All of their accouterment is part of the costume, part of the mask that distracts and diverts others from finding out what is really going on inside their head.
Women don’t be afraid, be bold.
Personal power should be used to fulfill our dreams, quietly.
There is no need to make a splash just proceed, and find your bliss.
Discover your pride and your power.
Be yourself, there is no need for sound effects.
Be still and hear the inner voice of inspiration,
Be real and find yourself and your dreams silently and
You will be noticed even more than if you rang a thousand bells.
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