She Delivers She

Blood, sweat, tears

Are you not her essence?

Bent neck, forehead to earth,

Swan on the hunt

Infant flesh pressed on bone, 

Tendons pulsing under her delicate arch

Milk stain on cerulean blue

Silk skimming water hoisted

Skyward eruptive

Baby yanks

Her cinnamon-wrapped bun

Heavy, effortless

Reeling back, unbridled laughter

Retreat, compose

Under their ubiquitous gaze

Is it too much, too little?

Too lean, too round?

Come across a certain way?

Skin kissed by the two-faced sun

Nothing a little toxin won’t heal

Defy nature for nature is unkind

To her, all floral and musk

Between her high-waisted trousers, wedged heels

Kaftan and bare feet

Destiny awaits

Mother, not mother

Blood lets; sweat comes; tears fall

Damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t

Get the timing just right

Baby now, job later

Job now, baby later

No babies, job forever

Babies, babies, babies 

Cries ringing, laptop in lap

Naptime in 5, supper in 10

She can do it all, should she?

She never asks

Half cup coffee, half basket laundry

Half the credit, half her colleague’s salary

Twice the effort, twice the scrutiny 

Revel in her fall, dismiss her wins

Lighthouse of reminders

Twinkling incessant 

Do more, be more, weigh less, buy this

Tighten core, make director

Be

Powerful, Elegant

Kind, Commanding

Seen, Unseen

Bold, Subtle

Alluring, Unspoiled

Impossible expectations, always possible

For we are women

All blood, sweat, tears

Bridled and emboldened by legacy

We rise

To ignite that ancient-spun tapestry

Of She

Destroyers and Creators 

Ashes and diamonds

Don't mistake me

She delivers She