Poems
Poems
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Soft Power and Identity
Soft Power and Identity
Not every power moves in force or steel,
Nor speaks in the language of might;
Some travel quietly through stories,
Crossing borders without resistance,
Shaping how nations are seen and felt.
Not every power moves in force or steel,
Nor speaks in the language of might;
Some travel quietly through stories,
Crossing borders without resistance,
Shaping how nations are seen and felt.
It begins with a tale of who we are:
A memory shaped by history and identity,
A narrative woven from culture and values,
Giving people meaning and form.
It begins with a tale of who we are:
A memory shaped by history and identity,
A narrative woven from culture and values,
Giving people meaning and form.
It is crafted in practice and belief,
Then projected outward through diplomacy and voice,
Offering a presence beyond the self.
It is crafted in practice and belief,
Then projected outward through diplomacy and voice,
Offering a presence beyond the self.
Yet a story holds no power alone;
It must be heard and accepted,
Recognised as truth or possibility,
Resonating across different worlds.
Yet a story holds no power alone;
It must be heard and accepted,
Recognised as truth or possibility,
Resonating across different worlds.
Thus soft power grows:
Not through coercion, but connection,
Through narratives that travel and settle,
Building trust where interests meet.
Thus soft power grows:
Not through coercion, but connection,
Through narratives that travel and settle,
Building trust where interests meet.
For in the realm of soft power,
A nation’s strength lies in its story:
To inspire others to see themselves within it,
Or to believe in the story it becomes.
For in the realm of soft power,
A nation’s strength lies in its story:
To inspire others to see themselves within it,
Or to believe in the story it becomes.
Dr Sarina Theys
The Myth of Smallness
The Myth of Smallness
They called them small.
They called them small.
Not because they lacked influence,
but because power prefers
its own reflection.
Not because they lacked influence,
but because power prefers
its own reflection.
Maps became hierarchies.
Numbers became limits.
Size became a story
repeated until it sounded true.
Maps became hierarchies.
Numbers became limits.
Size became a story
repeated until it sounded true.
Yet smallness was never an inherent fact.
Yet smallness was never an inherent fact.
It was constructed:
a language of power
designed to constrain agency
and define significance
on someone else's terms.
It was constructed:
a language of power
designed to constrain agency
and define significance
on someone else's terms.
As The Soft Power of Non-Western Small States
reminds us,
influence is not measured
by territory or population alone.
As The Soft Power of Non-Western Small States
reminds us,
influence is not measured
by territory or population alone.
It lives in relationships,
ideas,
diplomacy,
and the courage
to shape one's own narrative.
It lives in relationships,
ideas,
diplomacy,
and the courage
to shape one's own narrative.
The states did not become larger.
The states did not become larger.
They simply stopped believing
they were small.
They simply stopped believing
they were small.
Dr Sarina Theys
I Do Not Compete
I Do Not Compete
I do not compete for room to rise.
I do not compete for room to rise.
I know the horizon does not end
where another woman stands.
I know the horizon does not end
where another woman stands.
Her brilliance is not a boundary.
Her success is not my shortage.
The sky has never asked us
to take turns shining.
Her brilliance is not a boundary.
Her success is not my shortage.
The sky has never asked us
to take turns shining.
I have learned the shape of my own strength,
the sound of my own voice,
the ground beneath my own feet.
I have learned the shape of my own strength,
the sound of my own voice,
the ground beneath my own feet.
So when another woman rises,
I do not measure.
I do not compare.
I celebrate.
So when another woman rises,
I do not measure.
I do not compare.
I celebrate.
And when she cannot see
the light she carries,
I will remind her.
And when she cannot see
the light she carries,
I will remind her.
Women who know their worth
do not compete for the light:
Women who know their worth
do not compete for the light:
they stand in it fully,
and help others find theirs.
they stand in it fully,
and help others find theirs.
Dr Sarina Theys
Light in What We Give
Light in What We Give
Gratitude begins in the quiet noticing:
the breath that arrives without asking,
the steady ground beneath uncertain feet,
the unseen hands that shaped the path ahead.
Gratitude begins in the quiet noticing:
the breath that arrives without asking,
the steady ground beneath uncertain feet,
the unseen hands that shaped the path ahead.
Guidance does not always speak loudly.
Sometimes it is a pause,
a redirection we didn’t plan,
a voice that reminds us
we are not walking alone.
Guidance does not always speak loudly.
Sometimes it is a pause,
a redirection we didn’t plan,
a voice that reminds us
we are not walking alone.
And service is where gratitude becomes action:
not what we take,
but what we give forward,
not what we hold,
but what we help carry.
And service is where gratitude becomes action:
not what we take,
but what we give forward,
not what we hold,
but what we help carry.
To be grateful is to see the gift.
To be guided is to trust the unfolding.
To serve is to become part of the light
we once needed ourselves.
To be grateful is to see the gift.
To be guided is to trust the unfolding.
To serve is to become part of the light
we once needed ourselves.
Dr Sarina Theys
The Strength She Did Not See
The Strength She Did Not See
She was taught to fold herself small,
to quiet her voice,
to dim her light
so others could shine brighter.
She was taught to fold herself small,
to quiet her voice,
to dim her light
so others could shine brighter.
She mistook silence for humility,
self-sacrifice for love,
and invisibility for virtue.
She mistook silence for humility,
self-sacrifice for love,
and invisibility for virtue.
For years she carried borrowed truths,
wearing labels that never belonged to her:
too much,
too ambitious,
too sensitive,
too different.
For years she carried borrowed truths,
wearing labels that never belonged to her:
too much,
too ambitious,
too sensitive,
too different.
So she shrank,
piece by piece,
until she almost forgot
the shape of her own soul.
So she shrank,
piece by piece,
until she almost forgot
the shape of her own soul.
Then life, in its relentless wisdom,
placed mirrors in her path:
not of glass,
but of experience,
heartbreak,
courage,
and awakening.
Then life, in its relentless wisdom,
placed mirrors in her path:
not of glass,
but of experience,
heartbreak,
courage,
and awakening.
And in those reflections
she saw something unexpected.
And in those reflections
she saw something unexpected.
She was never small.
She was never small.
The limits she carried
had been handed to her by others,
wrapped in fear,
expectation,
and misunderstanding.
The limits she carried
had been handed to her by others,
wrapped in fear,
expectation,
and misunderstanding.
She began to unlearn.
To question.
To reclaim.
She began to unlearn.
To question.
To reclaim.
With every boundary she drew,
her roots grew deeper.
With every truth she spoke,
her voice grew stronger.
With every step she took,
her purpose became clearer.
With every boundary she drew,
her roots grew deeper.
With every truth she spoke,
her voice grew stronger.
With every step she took,
her purpose became clearer.
The woman who once apologized for existing
learned to stand without permission.
The woman who once apologized for existing
learned to stand without permission.
The woman who doubted her worth
learned that her value was never up for debate.
The woman who doubted her worth
learned that her value was never up for debate.
And the woman who believed she was insignificant
discovered she had always been powerful:
not because she became someone new,
but because she finally met
the person she had been all along.
And the woman who believed she was insignificant
discovered she had always been powerful:
not because she became someone new,
but because she finally met
the person she had been all along.
Now she walks forward
not seeking approval,
but guided by purpose.
Now she walks forward
not seeking approval,
but guided by purpose.
Not shrinking to fit spaces,
but creating them.
Not shrinking to fit spaces,
but creating them.
Not questioning whether she belongs,
but knowing she does.
Not questioning whether she belongs,
but knowing she does.
For the greatest transformation
was not becoming powerful:
For the greatest transformation
was not becoming powerful:
it was realizing
that she always was.
it was realizing
that she always was.
Dr Sarina Theys
The River of Life
The River of Life
The river of life carries many souls to our shore.
The river of life carries many souls to our shore.
Some stay long enough to become part of our landscape, others drift away with the tide.
Some stay long enough to become part of our landscape, others drift away with the tide.
Boundaries are the banks that keep the river flowing without losing itself.
Boundaries are the banks that keep the river flowing without losing itself.
Dr Sarina Theys
Not Forgotten
Not Forgotten
May the winds blow softly
May the winds blow softly
and whisper in your ear
and whisper in your ear
you are not forgotten
you are not forgotten
silent thoughts will keep you near.
silent thoughts will keep you near.
Dr Sarina Theys
Memories
Memories
Memories come and go,
Memories come and go,
flowing into imaginary vessels,
flowing into imaginary vessels,
moving between tidal waves,
moving between tidal waves,
only to be returned to the ocean mind.
only to be returned to the ocean mind.
Dr Sarina Theys
Climate Clock
Climate Clock
Tick tock goes the climate clock.
Tick tock goes the climate clock.
The sound is loud and clear.
The sound is loud and clear.
A constant reminder, as it is always near.
A constant reminder, as it is always near.
Tick tock, hurry up!
Tick tock, hurry up!
Time never waits, it merely dictates.
Time never waits, it merely dictates.
Do not be fooled, the climate clock cannot be overruled.
Do not be fooled, the climate clock cannot be overruled.
Dr Sarina Theys
Liefde
Liefde
Hoog boven het blauwe wolkendek
Hoog boven het blauwe wolkendek
ontmoet ik een bijzondere man.
ontmoet ik een bijzondere man.
Ik kijk hem aan, en vraag zijn naam.
Ik kijk hem aan, en vraag zijn naam.
Zijn ogen glinsteren en weerspiegelen mijn verschijning.
Zijn ogen glinsteren en weerspiegelen mijn verschijning.
Mijn naam is Liefde, zegt hij. Ik ben Liefde.
Mijn naam is Liefde, zegt hij. Ik ben Liefde.
Iedereen die in mijn ogen kijkt zal me zien.
Iedereen die in mijn ogen kijkt zal me zien.
Ik ben het stukje dat de buitenwereld ziet
Ik ben het stukje dat de buitenwereld ziet
wanneer ze naar jou kijken.
wanneer ze naar jou kijken.
Dr Sarina Theys
Dr Sarina Theys
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