By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 30 March 2000
This Woman I Am
the woman i would like to be is patient and sane
and wise and virtuous
and more valuable than rubies
as she sits in a chair in the corner of a small room
content with the sounds of traffic outside the window
as she crotchets an afghan or cross stitches a pillow case
with her hair neatly combed
and a pleasant expression on her radiant face
The Woman I Am
is a neurotic mess
she drives to the store at odd hours
because she hates to be crowded and closed in by
indecisive consumers
she can't sit still
she can't sew
she can't sleep
she can't shine womanly serenity
and grow a garden
and keep a pet
and visit hospital wards
and bake perfect almond cookies
the Woman I Am
likes nothing better than to get sweaty
in a reggae bar on a Saturday night
and drink Long Island Ice Tea
and walk down the sidewalk in the rain
and hand eight dollars to a man
because he asked for it
do you think you could love her?
the me I'd like to be
the me I am
and the me I was?
if you love me
you'll find layers
so many layers
your questions
will never
end
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