By Mariatha Causway
Aka Jennifer Thomas
So let’s talk
About our exes
Their games, their lies;
About how
We refused to let them
Ruin our lives.
So let’s talk
About who
Stole our youth and
Confused our heads.
With their male
Chauvinistic ways
And ultra male egos.
Let us
Smile at our delights.
Beautiful all … in a row.
Different ways
Of entry and all
So deliciously delightful.
Let’s talk
Of hours of pain
Worth the wait
And marvel at our triumphs.
Three at university hurling
And four to go…
But in the end
We did it
Our way—smiling
On a matured bench…
Remembering our bodies
Still beautiful but morphing
Less agile and soon
Gone for good
Though not yet.
Let’s talk of our pride
Yet intact.
Our smiles, altered,
Our memories strong.
True friends…
True women…
To the end.
(In honour of International Women’s Day, March 8, 2012)
