Less Of A Woman

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?