This is a poem by a member of Write Horizons, a group of local writers, who meet in the area once a week. The group write poems and stories – some fact, some fiction – enjoying one another’s company and sharing ideas and encouragement.
If you can keep your hair straight when all are curling theirs
If you can trust yourself when all about you say you will never make the diet, you were a fool even to try it.
If you can forever wait on others and expect that you will never be waited on.
If you can stand being gossiped about and not gossip back, and feel good about having more curves than the page three girl.
If you can daydream about that handsome man on TV and still have tea ready for the family.
If you can still find pleasure in the common chore and quiet your screaming babe before he wakes the street.
If you can, each Wednesday and Saturday night, hope for a fortune but to be just one short, and carry on smiling all the same.
If you can pile up all your clothing and not be bothered if it’s ironed or not.
If you can hear the facts that you have spoken be twisted to please the small minded, knowing your truth will come out soon, on Loose Women!
If you can watch the young people you gave life to try to make a life on their own, and bend and stoop till they get a washing machine of their own.
If you can force your heart, breasts and belly into a dress that fitted perfect last year, and go out and dance the night away and give it lots of wellie
If you can talk to those with brass and not give away your common class.
If you can get out of the internet a willing minute, sixty seconds of good and useful information instead of others rehashed opinions.
The world is yours and you’ve earned it and what’s more, you’re a woman my daughter!