By: Aiden Olson
Dear Reader,
Women climbing their way to to sea level
Put in boxes with labels shipped back down to the ocean floor
Submerged by the waves of middle age white men suffocating us and our
voices
Feeding their egos and power only for us to find sadness among the depths
Shoved into the darkest corners
pushed to the deepest pits of nothingness for the last time
This is it
Our chance to speak
Your turn to listen
“Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into
smoke” (Night Pg34)
“Freed of normal constraints some of the young let go of their inhibitions, under
cover of darkness…”
(Night pg.23)
Pour hero committing suicide for a ration or two more of soup… in our
minds he was already dead
(Night pg.39)
Beneath our feet there lay men, crushed, trampled underfoot, dying.
Nobody paid attention to them”
(Night Pg.89)
“They passed me by, like beaten dogs, with never a glance in my direction”
(Night Pg.17)
This poem shows oppression because us
women, we’re strong. We have a voice
but the world and others have poisoned
our minds to believe we don't, further
oppressing us. I chose this poem
because I think it's important to remind
us that we are stronger than they tell us
We are constantly shamed for our
bodies and told that were inappropriate,
disgusting for all the things that are
natural for us. Told to be embarrassed
for the contents of our bodies that is the
whole reason that ANY of us are here. I
think she does a beautiful job calling out
the oppression that is people shaming
us for how are bodies work.
By: Aiden Olson
This blackout poem from page 26 in the book Night is again about oppression. The "our
bodies were infected" symbolizes society constantly telling us we need to cover up, that we should
be ashamed of our developing bodies. That our inner workings are something you should never
speak of and to be disgusted like the rest of them. Our bodies bound and gagged by your words and
constricting clothes screaming at us to be modest because if not... you're a slut. But if you do...
you're a prude, and that's nothing to be proud of; right?
The "blows to the head. No longer saw us. Mute. Absent. alone in the midst of fire" symbolizing the
horrific words and acts to repress our bodies and our minds, our voice. The recent abortion law in
Alabama... just another fatal blow to the head. The midst of fire symbolizing our country and our
president continuously objectifying us and the country watching.
Power to the people Power to The People Power to the people
By John Lennon
Power to the people Power to the people
Power to the people Power to the people,
A million workers right on
Power to the people working for nothing
Now, now, now, now
Power to the people You better give 'em
what they really own Oh well, power to
Power to the people the people
We got to put you
Power to the people down Power to the people
Power to the people, When we come into Power to the people
right on town
Power to the people,
Say we want a Singing power to the right on
revolution people
Yeah, power to the
We better get on Power to the people people
right away
Power to the people Power to the people
Well you get on your
feet Power to the people, Power to the people
right on
And into the street Power to the people,
I gotta ask you right on
Singing power to the comrades and
people Power to the people
brothers Power to the people
Power to the people Power to the people
How do you treat Power to the people,
Power to the people you own woman
right on
Power to the people, back home
right on
“She got to be
herself
So she can free
herself
Singing power to the
people”
This quote from the John Lennon song “Power to The People” is so beyond powerful. With such few
words to this quote it captures so much… Women need to stop conforming to society’s standards of
beauty and intelligence. We are slaves to the social order and their “rules” of what is expected. If we
step back and just let it go, be ourselves for once. Then we can finally be free.
Aiden Olson
About the author
Aiden Olson was born and raised in Vancouver, WA. She is the youngest of her and her 2
siblings; with an older brother named Aeyo (20) and and older sister named Alyssa (18). She spends
the majority of her time making art, designing shoes/clothes for people in the community and
staying up to date on the important issues is our world today. She aspires to become a fashion
designer and use her art and designs to bring attention to issues that don't have enough if any. She
is passionate about making change and helping people who are less fortunate.