We Are Women

WE ARE WOMEN

we are women of wandering spirits

fixed hearts

eyes lifted forever to sun moon

whatever rises continually

what hope is we see in stars

and the glint of light in your eyes

we are women of strong backs

even when they are weakened, injured, old, creaking

we remember them strong

and act accordingly

no matter how much it hurts

we are women of grave insight

sending us to the very corners of love

to see what the trouble is what it might be

and how it can be fixed

it’s more important than keeping house

we are women

simply stunningly, daily

we tread ground no one has tested or tried

on cracked feet of ancestors

knowledge rises up through us root to crown

we are determined

to know

what it is

and more

what it could be

and more

what we might make of it

and much more

ourselves.

E. Amato

For International Women's Day.  

Why not?

This is the first poem in the next next book --- Daughters of Invention.

(And  yes - it's always an Ailey party round here.  I know that whole yellow section by heart.  Swear.)