On being tough
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
Are you tough?
