
What’s the purpose?
The purpose is that we EMPOWER each other with our creative messages and stories from all over the world, with a multicultural, multilingual, beautiful, piece of art that inspires, speaks to us and empowers!
What’s the idea?
Language is identity! The idea is that every one of us adds ONE OR TWO LINES to our poem in the language(s) of their heart, so we continue writing the poem together.
How do I participate?
Apply one of the SENTENCE STRUCTURES that are stated at the end of this explanation TO YOUR LINE for our poem and add it to the comment section of this post. Metaphorical or literal, up to you! You are strongly encouraged to write in your NATIVE LANGUAGE or ANY LANGUAGES CLOSE TO YOUR HEART. Even if you belong to a small group of speakers, or your language (or dialect) is rarely or not written, still use it for your message! It is an enrichment for us! Just spell it like you speak it!
It would be great if everybody could try to provide us with an English explanation, so we can all understand your empowering, creative and multilingual messages. If you have difficulties with the translation, ask other members for help! You are free to provide as much additional explanation about your line(s) as you like.
It is just important that you...
- First, clearly provide your ONE OR TWO poem line(s) using one of the sentence structures that are provided
- Then state in which language(s) you are writing
- Then provide the explanation, if necessary
- You may also state your native language if it differs and other languages that you speak, so other participants can ask you for help with their translations.
- Check in the comments whether you can help anyone with a translation into English or into another language. Provide your translation as a comment to their comment !
- Get others to participate in our multilingual and empowering poem and SHARE this post: https://www.worldpulse.com/en/community/users/sarah10/posts/86514
The different sentence structures
- Don't be (..), be (...) e.g. Don't be the rain, be the thunder or Don't be fear, be courage
- Be (...) but become (...) e.g. Be the seed but become the flower or Be the thinker but become the doer
- Be (...) but build (...) e.g. Be the ship but build an anchor or Be the river but build a bridge
- Be (...) but DON'T (...) e.g. Be a fighter but don't use violence or Be in love but don't forget who you are
- Be (...) but be (...) e.g. Be critical but be encouraging or Be different but be united
An Example of how to create a line in another language
I decide to use the 2nd sentence structure " Be (...) but become (...)" , my native and chosen language is German. "Be" means "Sei" in German, "but become" means "aber werde" in German. Therefore, I use the structure "Sei (...) aber werde (...)" in German.
What your post could look like
My WE-TREE of POWER line(s): "Sei der Kokon, aber werde der Schmetterling."
The language I used: German
Explanation: My line means "Be the cocoon but become the butterfly". This is something that symbolizes for me the development we go through as human beings: Our life is a dynamic process and we should strive for our goals. We can all become beautiful like a butterfly and even if some people seem to be like cocoons sometimes, there are beautiful butterflies inside of them. But what is beauty? - Butterflies are not only beautiful and have a diversity of colors but they can also fly, they are free! So let us all strive to be and embrace each other as free, beautiful, colorful human beings !
My native language: German
My language(s) of heart: Papiamentu, French and German
You can ask me for help to translate: German, English, French, Dutch and Papiamentu.
OUR MULTILINGUAL WE-TREE of POWER POEM
Sei der Kokon, aber werde der Schmetterling (German) -SARAH ANNA-
Be 100% authentic but build character.
Be honest but DON'T be unkind.
Be responsible but DON'T take on the responsibility of others that need to take responsibility for themselves and their own actions.
Be your best self) but be free to have fun and enjoy the process as well. -JLANGHUS-
Different languages but one thought
Many nations but one dream
All women but one sisterhood -SISTER ZEPH-
Ek Bar Na Parile Dekho Shotobar (Bengali) -JAFREEN ALAMGIR-
Be satisfied with yourself but be everything that you dream possible. -TAMARACK VERRALL-
Be an encourager but don’t be a discourager
Be a saver but don’t be a setter.
Be the heat but don’t be tale.
Be a tree but bear fruit.
Be a house but build the foundation.
Be a family but build the union.
Be the root. -STEPHANIE MAH-
- to be continued -
A Few Lines for Inspiration
WE-TREE OF POWER POEM
1. Don't be (...), be (...)
Don’t be the rain, be the thunder
Don’t be the eclipse, be the sun
Don’t be the silence, be the music
Don’t be the sheep, be the shepherdess
Don’t be the feathers, be the wings
Don’t be the wall, be the gate
Don’t be the ashes, be the fire
Don’t be fear, be courage
Don’t be desperation, be hope
Don’t be revenge, be forgiveness
Don’t be ignorance, be purpose
Don’t be prejudice, be reason.
Don’t be heroic, be human
Don’t be hatred, be love
(...)
2. Be (...), but become (...)
Be the seed, but become the flower
Be the cocoon but become the butterfly
Be the soil but become the harvest
Be the air but become the breath
Be the silence but become the voice
Be the sound but become the language
Be the book but become the writer
Be the water but become the wave
Be the thinker but become the doer
(...)
3. Be (...), but build (...)
Be the ship but build an anchor
Be the pillar but build a roof
Be the forest but build a path
Be the river but build a bridge
Be the fuel but build an engine
(...)
4. Be (...) but DON'T (...)
Be a fighter but DON’T use violence
Be different nations but DON’T build boarders
Be in love but DON’T forget who you are
Be a mountaineer but DON’T stop breathing
(...)
5. Be (...) but be (...)
Be critical but be encouraging
Be a spokesperson but be a listener
Be empathetic but kick ass
Be different but be united
Be admired but be an admirer
Be tolerant but be persistent
Be a fighter but be peace
Be a tree but be growing
Be growing but together.
(…)
Be the trunk
Or a branch
Or a root
Or a leaf!
Be you!
My WE-TREE of POWER line(s): "Sei der Kokon, aber werde der Schmetterling."
The language I used: German
Explanation: My line means "Be the cocoon but become the butterfly". This is something that symbolizes the development for me that we go through as human beings: Our life is a dynamic process and we should strive for our goals. We can all become beautiful like a butterfly and even if some people seem to be like cocoons sometimes, there are beautiful butterflies inside of them. But what is beauty? - Butterflies are not only beautiful and are diverse in color, they can also fly, they are free! So let us all strive to be and embrace each other as free, beautiful, culturally diverse human beings !
My native language: German
My language(s) of heart: Papiamentu, French and German
You can ask me for help to translate: German, English, French, Dutch and Papiamentu.
Hi Sarah. Welcome to World Pulse:-) Thanks for sharing your amazing post and brilliant idea. Here is my poem submission:
My WE-TREE of POWER line(s): "Be 100% authentic, honest, responsible and your best self... always."
The language I used: English
Explanation: I believe people that are real are beautiful and being anything less is just a shame. Even if we have multiple lives, or even if we don't, we have a choice every day to be our best selves and to live our best lives, every day, and always. Let's make the right choice. Let's make a difference not only in our lives, but the lives of everyone around us. We can set and be the example.
My native language: English
Hello Jlanghus. Thank you so much for your participation and inspiring message. I love your WE-TREE of POWER line and for me also being real is true beauty and authentic ! Just one thing, could you maybe use one or more of the sentence structures I provided in the explanation. That would be great !
Be (...) but build (...)
Be (...) but become (...)
Be (...) but DON'T (...)
Be (...) but be (...)
Don't be (..), be (...)
The goal is to have one huge multilingual poem in the end :) Like you said: We can set and be the example ! Best, Sarah
Okay, let me try again:-)
Be (100% authentic) but build (character).
Be (honest) but DON'T be unkind.
Be (responsible) but DON'T take on the responsibility of others that need to take responsibility for themselves and their own actions.
Be (your best self) but be free to have fun and enjoy the process as well.
That is perfect ! Thank you :-)
You're welcome:) Looking forward to seeing more posts from you about what you're passionate about.
Hope you have a great day!
Amazing Amazing Amazing what an idea to bring women at one plateform , different languages but one thought, many nations but one dream, all women but one sisterhood
Thank you so much Sister Zeph :) I really love your three We-Tree lines ! This is surely going to be a very empowering poem :) I will soon start updating the poem and add the lines of all participants :) Best, Sarah
Thank you Sarah for sharing an interesting initiative to encourage diversity.
My WE-TREE of POWER line(s): "Ek Bar Na Parile Dekho Shotobar"
The language I used: Bengali
Explanation: It means if you could not achieve success at once, you should keep trying more than one times and carry on trying until you actually succeed. That is, dont lose hope for your failure. Keep trying and believe in yourself and your potential.
Thank you so much Jafreen for your We-Tree of Power line in Bengali, the words look beautiful. I wish I could hear how they sound. And it is great to find all these different notions in one line. I am always impressed again and again of how in some languages one word can carry so much meaning. - And, yes! Let's always keep trying ! Best, Sarah
Hi Sarah,
What a lovely idea. Here is a line from me:
Be satisfied with yourself but be everything that you dream possible.
In sisterhood,
Tam
Thank you Tamarack for this inspiration ! I believe you could fill a whole book writing about that line. Yes, we should indeed be satisfied with what we have, and when it comes to dreams, dream them but also be them ! Best, Sarah
Hi Sarah. Welcome to world pulse. Your post is inspiring and interesting.
My WE-TREE of POWER line (s): " Be an encourager but not Be a discourager. Be a saver but not Be a setter. Be the heat but not Be tale. Be a tree but beer fruit. Be a house but Build the foundation.Be a family but build the union. Be the root
The language I used: English.
Wow thank you Stephanie ! There truly is a poet in you and you even picked up the tree image :) Beautiful and inspiring ! Could you maybe tell me a bit more about your thoughts on the lines "Be a saver but don't be a setter" and "Be the heat but don't be the tale". That would be great, so I can get a better idea about it.
Thank you. Best, Sarah
I encourage you to use your native languages, or simply the language you feel the closest connection to ! Let's make this poem diverse and multilingual ! Best, Sarah
Dear Sarah,
My WE-TREE of POWER lines:
Je enikeji,sugbon he enikeji nitooto.
Mase je Ikorira,je Ife.
Language used: Yoruba
Translation: 1st line: Be a friend,but be a friend indeed.
2nd line: Don't be hate, be love.
Explanation:Its a simple message that if you want to be my friend ,be my friend indeed and in need.Love is the greatest commandment ,so don't hate,forgive quickly and forget.Help the needy it is a sign of love.
Thank you .I really love this.and look forward to the outcome of the poem.
Much love.
Hello Sarah, I am really loving your WE-TREE of POWER lines initiative! It's surely going to be a very empowering poem. Here are my lines in Swahili (a language spoken mainly in East Africa, especially my beloved country Kenya and Tanzania):
Kuwa Kiongozi, lakini pia Kuwa Mfuasi (Be a Leader but become a Follower)
Kuwa Mshauri, lakini pia Kuwa Mshauriwa (Be a Mentor but become a Mentee)
Kuwa Mshauriwa, lakini pia Kuwa Mshauri (Be a Mentee but become a Mentor)
Kuwa Mpokezi, lakini pia Kuwa Mpaji (Be a Recipient but become a Giver)
Kuwa Mpendwa, lakini pia Kuwa ChemChemi la Mapenzi (Be Loved but become a Fountain of Love)
I am so happy to give my contribution, especially the last sentence which reminds me that "I should become a Fountain of Love"
I'd be more than happy to do English translations in Swahili for my sisters.
Interesting, wao, we want more from you