Ode to Jo - Life Before and After
I looked in the mirror every day;
I looked and saw only pieces of me.
I focussed on my hair. Smoothed it
into its slot and on my skin
used brushes and sponges
to conceal dark spots. Red powder
to mimic the hint of a crush;
Earth tones to carve out a chiselled husk;
Pencil to draw-out the bright in my eyes.
All this to hide the 'shadow self' that sang true lies -
for hours of preening would not undo
the Power that I held, I'd passed to you.
Wrapped it and tied it with a silver bow;
All in the hope that it would come back tenfold.
Today I look in the mirror and see the whole me.
I do not see an image trying to flee
the tirade of roles that had me
trapped.
I no longer live to be wife, daughter, mother - nor
the good girl tasked to solve all bother.
I breathe in deeply and let it escape -
A life time of entitlement, passion, hate.
And what remains is more than just an essence of me
It's an anchor, a cross, my heart guiding me earnestly.