Today, society imposes many opinions on us regarding our life choices, often reinforcing restrictive traditional roles. As women, we navigate conflicting expectations, feeling pressured to have a successful career while also being a good mother and partner with a tidy home. If we choose not to have children, that choice is also questioned. Our looks, age, and workplace become subjects of constant scrutiny, leading to judgment that can erode our confidence and self-esteem. With these thoughts in mind, I wrote this poem to explore these complex dynamics.
What is Your Honest Opinion of Me?
When you look at me, what do you see?
Tell me, what is your honest opinion of me?
Or better yet, don't, because what do you know?
About all the pillars that shape my core?
Should I not have had that cake that they served me before?
I still got 10 pounds to lose for sure.
Should I dress more conservatively for my age?
Never stand out and conduct myself with grace.
Should I hide the lines around my eyes?
Spend my money on creams with "anti-age" as a suffix.
Should I wear more makeup or nothing at all?
Make myself known or hide down below.
Should I have a drink or abstain totally?
Be a good example to everyone who sees.
What is your opinion on who I dated before?
Should I have slept around more, or been innocent and pure?
What is your opinion on who I give my life too?
Or should I not have gotten married but spent that time on my own?
Should I have had more kids, or none at all?
Spent that time instead on developing my goals.
Should I have more aspirations, become a CEO?
Or spend my time at home and cook everything from core?
What do you know about the traumas that I've faced?
Of the grief I carry with me every day?
Of the people I loved that had to leave.
How I try to fill a void that can never be filled.
Do you know about the nights where I cannot sleep?
When I worry about all that is expected of me.
Echoes of the women that have gone before me.
Are still whispering their woes from caves down below.
You can have your opinion, perceive me how you want.
But who are you to judge, to put me in a mould?
Of how you think a woman should be.
The point is you don't know me, not at all.
If you took the time to look beneath,
there is a complex individual with more layers than you can see.
You will never define me, I am who I choose to be.
Concluding Thoughts
Ultimately, this poem conveys that you should live by your own dreams, regardless of how others see you. Each person’s journey is unique, shaped by their own hopes and challenges. It’s important to remember that outside opinions can obscure your vision and lead to an unfulfilled life. Rather than letting societal expectations or family pressures dictate your choices, embrace your true self and follow what speaks to your heart. By doing this, you not only honor yourself but also inspire others to pursue their own dreams.
Related post: Double Standards
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