Woman

 
When you look at me what do you see? 

Do you see a mother raising her young 
with motherly wisdom on the tip of her tongue, 
loving and nurturing each and every one 
wanting what’s best for each daughter and son? 

Or do you see a housekeeper and cook? 
here to give your home just the right look, 
to feed you and clothe you and see to your needs 
perhaps even freeing the garden of weeds? 

But then again, if you’ve had bad health 
and haven’t been blessed with abundant wealth 
it might just be a nurse that you see 
whenever it is that you look at me? 

Perhaps it’s a lover you see before you? 
flooded with passion and emotions so true, 
who when you see her, ignites a deep fire 
and fills you with a compelling desire? 

Perchance when you look, you see a good friend 
compassionate and true, with a shoulder to lend? 
One who’ll stand by you through thick and thin 
and offer you comfort when it’s grief you’re in? 

Or maybe you see something different in me? 
Something that no other man can see? 
For whatever the meaning of woman to you, 
the next man will define it different, it’s true 

So give it some thought and take a good look 
Forget about all that you’ve read in a book. 
Now tell me, tell me, what you really see 
when you open your eyes and look at me? 






                      december 2001