Poem #118 I am a person, I am recognized as a She...

 

I am a person, I am recognized as a She,

Stop making me an extension, of another’s  identity;

As a child you call me, Daddy’s little girl,

An adult, my lovely future is unfurled;

No matter, what my achievements in life,

I am now best known, as my husbands wife.

Groomed at young age to be ready, to leave my home,

Be a part of my man’s family, that will never view me as their own;

My respect in the new household, depends on how my husband treats me,

I may be the smartest yet viewed unworthy, or the dumbest viewed a Queen Bee. 

I may be the kindest, the most helpful person, you have ever seen,

Should I dare have my own opinion, I will still be deemed mean;

If I do not conform to my hubby’s needs, I am labeled an unfit wife,

Raising my voice on being trampled, only paves the path to a bad life.

Having my own likes and dislikes, is viewed as a negative,

While everyone’s ready judgement of me, I need to embrace as positive;

A few years in, I am adjusting to see this life as my own,

Giving up on my childhood dreams, now that I am all grown.

Years into this marriage, now it’s time to grow his family,

Defy the traditional path, then I am asked, what’s wrong with me?

Now my value and respect is deserved, only if I bear a child,

If I dare to ask for stability before we move to this stage, I am called wild!

Finally if I give it all up, myself, my thoughts, goals and dreams,

Succumb to societal pressures, drowning my inner screams;

Now I am defined as a mother, still not my own identity,

An extension of a new born child, do you see the irony!!

Instead should I choose not to give in, and cling on to be me,

My marriage stagnates, do I stray the path or continue & leave be?

While I pursue career, adding successes, playing my character in the mime,

My future is regarded worthless, without a companion or a child of mine.

Neither familial nor professional success, is a definition of me,

Either choice, only reflects what you choose to perceive;

Don’t know who, don’t know how, no matter what you see,

I am trying to find my inner self, something that makes me “Me”;

Stop making me an extension, of another's identity,

I am a person, I am recognized as a “She”.