Throughout the month of March each year, people all over the United States celebrate Women’s History Month. At Janeane’s World, we are joining that celebration by sharing inspirational words from women throughout history. Today we are sharing the Nikki Giovanni poem “I’m Not Lonely.”
Here is my interpretation of the poem. After you watch it, create one of your own and share it with me at janeanedavis@janeanesworld.com .
I’m Not Lonely by Nikki Giovanni
I like this poem because it is hopeful and is has a spirit of resilient come back and even a bit of a hopeful defiance. There is strength in the voice of the person in the poem telling her story. She let’s the listener know that though he counted her out and thought she was small and weak, she is not. Instead, she is big, strong, unafraid and standing tall. She enjoys her freedom because the thing she was most afraid of has happened and she has survived. Additionally, not only has she survived, she has begun to thrive and enjoy her new status quo.
It is important to read this poem and to embrace the lessons it teaches. One of the realities of life is that sometimes, life is hard. Sometimes, people we cling to and need, leave us or threaten to leave us. When those things happen, if we are not careful, we wallow in despair and desperation. While we should be sad, if someone we love leaves us or does us wrong, we should not remain sad and unable to function forever. When bad things happen, we must find ways to pull ourselves together, pick ourselves up and continue to move forward and get life back on track.
If you find yourself in alone, remember lonely and alone are two different words. You are not lonely, just because you are alone. Find a way to enjoy the new space you have for yourself and keep living!