I am not less of a woman
if I don't cook every night,
I'm not less of a woman
if I have rooms long over
due for a cleaning,
I'm not less of a woman
if I have laundry or dishes
piled,
I'm not less of a woman
if I don't have my own
chickens in the backyard
for fresh egg eatin',
I'm not less of a woman
if I can't but organic food
for my family,
I'm not less of a woman
if I forget my camera at
important kids programs,
I'm not less of a woman
if I am battling an illness
or live with chronic pain,
I'm not less of a woman
if I didn't make a check
next to everything on my
to do list for today,
I'm not less of a woman
if I'm too tired for intimacy,
I'm not less of a woman
if I raise my voice at my
children,
I'm not less of a woman
if I don't have a college degree,
I'm not less of a woman
if I don't work outside
of the home,
I'm not less of a woman
if I don't get to travel the
globe,
I'm not less of a woman
if I wear sweatpants
all day long,
I'm not less of a woman
if I don't churn my own butter
bake my own bread or
grow my own garden.
I'm not less of a woman
if I get cranky, irritable,
or argue with my husband,
I'm not less of a woman
if I sleep til 10 in the morning,
or if I have 10 extra pounds on.
I'm not less of a woman
if I say no to a friend in need.
I'm not less of a woman
if I'm praised, put down,
mocked, judged, or misunderstood.
Just like you, I am a woman, a wife, a partner, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a believer, a non-believer.
Depressed, angry, disappointed, tired, exhausted, hopeful, ambitious, and scared.I am growing, learning, listening, trying, frustrated and hardworking. We are home owners, renters,
business owners, on food stamps, athletes, glamorous, jealous, daring and fearful. We are shy, friendly,
outgoing and hospitable. We are sick, well, and everything in between. We struggle, strive, and succeed.
We laugh, cry and scream. We're quiet, we talk, and we are silent. We are moved, sensitive, and
emotional. We are full of energy, and we have nothing left. We give, we take and we share. We are
fashionable and unfashionable. We are high and low. Tall and short. Heavy, thin and everything in
between. We are teachers, instructors, and students. We are academic, articulate and ignorant.
We are scholars, theologians, and skeptics. We are artists, engineers, and baristas. We are lovers,
fighters and companions. We give advice, listen well and interrupt. We fall, and stand tall. We are strong we are weak. We are homemakers, foster families, and adopters. We are blessed we are cursed. We are rich we are poor. We are compassionate and rude. We are high and we are low, we are together and alone. We are creative and we are brainy. We are grandmothers, dancers and we are retired.
Put together we are so much. Each important, each our own purpose. Each our own story and journey. Our beautiful, messy, complicated, difficult, wild, crazy, blessed journey.
*My poem is a collection
of examples and heart cries
that I have heard from other
woman. Things they have
shared with me or things
I've been keen to along
the way. Do you recognize
yourself?
