On being tough - Happy Women's Day!

On being tough

 

 

Sunday morning

Woke up in a hurry

Wore my Avon dress

Tuck the stomach in

Wore gray fishnets

And a delicate pair

Of bright purple heels

Got the child ready for church

Fixed our hair

Baked cheese bread

Made until late

The night before

Right after

I filtered my self-distilled wine

To wait thirty more days of fermentation

Same time I was cooking the potatoes

Teaching the child

To be careful in the kitchen

Making home made gnocchi

A gourmet food we can’t afford at a restaurant

When the economy is so bad

Could not hide the dark circles

Under the eyes

The birthday invitations

For the child have to get done

Even if one AM

Back to the descending

of those steps

Here come this really tough two teen girls

Basic clichés:

Piercings

Tattoos

Dark skulls

Spike dirty looking hair

Raggedy jeans

Nasty shoes

Really original

Giggling uncontrollably

As they passed by

A good morning:

- Take off those fishnets EW

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Three steps down

I realize it was in fact for me

I walk to the car

Sit the child in the car seat

Calmly still in disbelief

I take my seat

I wish to have telepathic abilities

To get into those naive minds

Just to tell them

About being tough

Tough was being a teen

Without proper clothes

Not even for a job interview

Tough was to get that no

“because your style does not fit my company”

For I had mom’s clothes on

Bleeding feet

From shoes too small

to fit my dreams

Tough is not having money for lunch

When you are only eighteen

Tough is going through college

At night after work

Without a shower or food

And have always

Someone with a wonderful sense of humor

Laughing

At the tangerine you sneak in

At the mud in your shoes

Those tattoos of yours

Will never compare

to what nature will do to you

Are you ready?

Around the corner

The white hairs will all show

The wrinkles will surface

You could be too thin

Too fat

Too poor

Too dumb for that job you wish

I hope I could tell you in this second

When almost on the corner

You still look back

Expecting a reaction

Tough is to know honey

I can’t fix you

Only you can do that

And I pray you do so

I hope that when nature

Sculpts in your body

You can look at that wrinkled face

And face yourself proud

Of the wise woman you have become

I am not standing

Against your tattoo, piercings

Or whatever tough looking paraphernalia

It’s OK to be cool

Just don’t mix up things

And become a fool

Go back home

And hug those books

Your best friends I ensure

I know that’s though hum

To leave your friends

In such beautiful day

To be caged with a book

And learn something if you may

Your youth states

You have all the time of the world

And that will end with a dreadful shock

When that mirror faces you back

And tell you time is up

When you have dark circles

Spider veins

Pains

Creepier than that skull on your shirt

Is to feel there is one inside your head

And that image will no longer feel

As tough if you will

I wish you could save that toughness

To use in strength

When your baby is with strangers

And you miss that train

Tough is to go back to work

And find coworkers envious

For how dare you had time out

On maternity leave

Tough is to breast-feed your child

Until year one

To pump in the bathroom

With people counting time

At the door

And giving you a scolding

For you are not “engaged” any more

Tough is to overhear man talking

Of women’s enlarged vaginas after birth

Tough is to start freaking out

That the stupidity could be true

You have just been divined

By bearing a soul

And most men worry

How big is the hole

I know you must be wishing

Not to finish this

“I can’t believe she went there”

I am sorry to say

but that’s the kind of though

I am trying to convey

You need to be strong

Please listen to what I say

You think drugs are though?

Though is to say no

To be the dumb square

No one wants to say hello

Tough is to keep it in your pants

When your body is also in flame

When your desires screams yes

Your mind says you are insane

Don’t mix yourself

Your pure self

That could do so great in this life

With someone who’s intents

You don’t even know

Be wise

Men are big lovers

Women you know

Focus on the big picture

Don’t be fooled by my fishnets

I am as fragile

As your wisdom can get

My heels are part

Of my armor

There is a war out there

May you have in your backpack

At least one lipstick

With red message

Not for your lips

A message of strength

As the substance in your veins

Are you tough?