To the Women: The New Collection: Wise Words Every Woman Needs

by Donna Ashworth

To the Women is a celebration of the beauty, strength and joy of being a woman. A love letter to our deep capacity to love, rage, fear and rebuild, Donna Ashworth reminds us that we are stronger when we come together and unstoppable when we accept ourselves. With poems such as 'Be That Woman', 'Take Up Space', 'When One Woman Screams', 'There Will Be Days' and 'To the Woman Who Thinks She Isn't Good Enough', Donna helps us find comfort, inspiration and courage in the many roles we play in life as daughters, guides, mothers and friends.

Originally self-published in 2020 with 48 poems, this beautiful gift hardback edition has been fully revised and updated complete with over 70 new poems. Full of wisdom and comfort every woman needs to hear, Donna helps us see that we're never walking alone.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published February 13, 2025

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8th and I borrowed this book from my library with that in mind. It’s beautifully written and several of the poems touched me.

[Inge · Rating 2 out of 5]

To the Women sounds like it was written for all women, but I didn't feel like I was the target audience. It was mostly aimed at middle-aged mothers.

[jolovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cynic in me says this collection of poems is really cheesy, and sometimes it does feel cheesy, cliché, unrealistic in its outlook. There's also some repetition of theme across the poems.

But it's also beautiful, wise, uplifting, a hug in a book. And I love the idea of opening to a random page to seek soothing words when needed, as suggested in the afterword.


Some of my faves:

- It's Time


- Just Begin
"Begin. You don't need to be ready. The word ready has prevented more dreams being realised than anything else because we can never be fully ready. It is important that we begin imperfectly. And afraid. And carry on just like that too. The magic only truly sparks when wonky wheels are in motion."


- To The Woman Who Thinks She Isn't Good Enough
"and actually, we are doing each other a favour
when we show up just as we are
warts and all, late, flustered
human

what we really need to see
is that we are all the same
we all struggle, we all fall apart

some days we nail it, other days we get nailed"


- Perspective


- To Our Daughters
"never let fear hold you back
from the wonders you could see...

your beauty is an amalgamation of everything
that makes you you
and it is utterly unique"


- The Greys, The Wrinkles
"the greys, the wrinkles, the rolls, the dimples
don't steal away your light
but the way you talk down to yourself
those harmful thoughts, just might."


- Miss Me Most


- Middle Finger


- Moments That Make Life Better
"The sound of the ocean. A hot bath after cold rain. Fresh sheets on weary bones. Taking off your shoes. And your bra... The breaking sound of birdsong after a long winter. Hearing I love you... Realising that magic is everywhere. If you look."


- There Will Be Days
"have faith
keep hope in your heart
tomorrow is a new day."


- Ten Things Time Has Taught Me
"the sooner you can make peace
with the vessel your soul lives in, the better...

your love and wisdom will live on far longer
than any material thing you can pass down"


- Blank Canvas
"the beauty of your journey
the true strength of your fight
is now etched upon you forevermore
you are a work of art
a work of learning
a walking story"


- Remember Her
"she doesn't understand why
you won't eat the cake
she doesn't understand why
you continue to fake

somewhere inside of you
there is a little girl...

she still has places she wants to go to
and wonders she can't wait to show you...

go get her, she is fun."


- Ageing
"... ageing isn't about lost youth, it's about finding. Finding who you were meant to be, all along."


- When Your Head Hits The Pillow
"you did your best today
you did enough
we are all just doing our best
with no rule book"


- If You Woke Up Today
"you need water, you need sun
you need food and you need fun"


- The Art Of Ageing Gracefully
"you have earned this face
every line, a laugh shared
every wrinkle, a year survived
every age spot, a day that
the sun shone on you"


- A Backstage Tour
"Getting older is a privilege denied to many, grab it with both hands and breathe it in."

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous inspiring, uplifting and resonating collection of poems from Donna Ashworth. I was very lucky enough to attend a literary event for the release of this book. Donna is just a gorgeous wonderful human and she was so giving with her time and advice not just during the event but afterwards during the meet and greet and signing. I've bought this book multiple times for gifts it's a wonderful collection. I can always find a page which can articulate how I'm feeling when I'm struggling to find the right words. ❤️

[Lydia Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t enjoy this much - picked it up thinking it would be a motivating self-help book however it’s just full of poems which wasn’t what I was looking for. Although it wasn’t what I was looking for, some of the poems are a nice read. If that’s what you like then I think you’ll enjoy this book.

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be be gifted to every woman. The poems speak to my heart. I am seen. I am heard. I am loved. I am enough. I am a child. I am grown and wise. I am.

I will keep this volume close and read it often.

[Kirsty Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful thought provoking positive poetry . Loved the wisdom in the pages and it is a really beautiful book . Will read some more of this authors books

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful but mainly for mothers so didn’t end up reading everyone

[Mina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gift from my manager for Women's Day, I read 1-2 poems sometimes since then. It is heart warming and a nice poem book, even though I don't like poems normally.

[Sarah Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poems of love, connection and inspiration

[Soph · Rating 5 out of 5]

highly recommend every woman to read this book!

[Hazel's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wise, inspiring, motivating, empowering. The perfect book to pick when you need a little pick me up.

[Lourdes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

[Tee 💘🎀📖 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been dipping in and out of this, it’s not a DNF because it’s bad, it’s just not been finished yet and I will update it once I have finished it because it’s actually really good so far

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for #chapter25readingchallenge for November which is ‘A book from a genre you wouldn’t normally read’

Loved these poems that empower, inspires and uplifts women