Generational Genesis
The Women in my family,
They'll tell you, you're capable.
Be a nurse, be in service of others,
Never of yourself.
But secretly, They'll hope you win,
Behind closed doors,
Against your blue collar man.
They'll be so helpful if you're sick,
But if you're flourishing,
They'll judge and pick and every mistake,
You've ever made.
I had anorexia as a kid,
Apparently, for eating one hot dog not two,
I couldn't have been athletic,
Or not wanting to be like from where I came.
"She's not married yet, also who would want her?"
Says my grandmother,
After my mother lies to keep the peace.
The Auntie who achieves,
Labelled too much and distanced from,
The one who was actually like me.
Distance and unhealed family,
Smiling quickly at Christmas,
Praising the men for their new vehicle license,
Picking at the women for all they do...
Or don't, or won't, new parenting styles... Not respected.
They'll talk about your flaws,
And ask "how are they?"
Not, "your daughter is intelligent,
Resilient and bright.
Why did you shun her?
Have you changed in the last 200 rounds of sunlight?"
The Women in my family,
Competing against their men,
Or fighting not to choke,
Being who they needed, though struggling to stay afloat.
Servicing and sacrificing for others,
It seems, they can't cope...
When someone tries to change.
When the new generation breathes fire,
And those young dragons challenge what they were told and filled with.
Our daughters won't be small now,
Not covert and narcissistic.
They don't need to win against their men,
Nor play apart their own children.
They see their Mothers strengths... Their Grandmother's and those of their peers in their cities.
They take the strengths and rebuke the lies, rebuke the white picket fence mentality and stand proud in their own capabilities.
Only partnering when United with themselves... No more codependency and business contracts facaded as marriage.
The children have known their elders longer than most of their friends,
They've been studying and are no longer tethered to the abusive dynamic that was glamorised as a romantic ride, with a horse and carriage.
If I sent this to my mother,
She'd disregard it as too much.
A tangent, too emotional.
I have a bee in my bonnet.
If I sent this to my grandmother,
She'd judge me.
I'm wounded and unstable.
Pharmaceuticals, she should be on it.
If I sent this to my Aunties, no answer
Or worries that I'm mental,
We need a welfare check.
Where is the safe woman in my family?
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment