Crutches
it's not the crutches we decry
it's the need to move forward
though we haven't the strength
women aren't allowed to need
so they develop rituals
since we all know working hands idle
the devil
women aren't supposed to be strong
so they develop social smiles
and secret drinking problems
and female lovers whom they never touch
except in dreams
men are supposed to be strong
so they have heart attacks
and develop other women
who don't know their weaknesses
and hide their fears behind male lovers
whom they religiously touch
each saturday morning on the basketball court
it's considered a sign of health doncha know
that they take such good care of their bodies
i'm trying to say something about the human condition
maybe i should try again
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This poem does something interesting with gender. She makes think about how we fall apart and crumble when we confine ourselves to these gender roles which are so rigid and expected. She calls this the human condition, something we all do, and of course doesn't feel like she has done a good enough job.
ReplyDeleteI love the line
"Women aren't sopposed to be strong
so they develop social smiles"
Is this true for us? Where does this come from? What is the difference between a smile and a social smile? Hmm.