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| Cartoon by Michael de Adder @deAdder |
October 6, 2018
lying Supreme Court Justice confirmed
I have no tears
maybe music for solace. . .
my cat sings soft melodies
moments click by on the clock
the wine cork pops
and I settle, watch
evening fold its cloak
around trees dropping leaves
the sun drops into its night
place beside those who can cry
and the anger, the anger
roils like hot oil
tap it down, tap it down!
stay calm! vote! be strong!
Being strong sucks . . .
We’ve been strong for centuries
We’ve marched for decades
We’ve kept silent because
(“it’s a man’s world” my mother said)
We’ve raised daughters
We’ve raised sons
We’ve raised husbands
We’ve cried into pillows at night
We’ve put one foot in front of the other
We’ve organized
We’ve been in therapy
We’ve cashed inferior paychecks
We’ve walked in the dark with fear
We’ve birthed babies
hoping . . .
WE. ARE. TIRED.
My dear women friends . . . sleep.
Find peace and quiet.
It’s been a long day.
Marsha Owens writes to understand. Her poems and essays have appeared at The Literary Nest, TheNewVerse.News, The Huffington Post, thewildword, Rat’s Ass Review, Streetlight Magazine, the Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, among others. She lives in Richmond, VA, not far from the peaceful Chesapeake Bay.