Lady

Family is supposed to mean love

Not a constant reminder

that I'm not good enough

How am I supposed to

Be kind to myself

when you never taught me how?

Respect doesn't live here

I think it ran off with strength.

You can tell them to come back now.

My mouth is sharp these days,

very similar to the daggers you

would always throw my way.

I wish you would have taught

me more acceptable things to say.

Wait, be a lady?

You mean talk really loud to make sure everyone hears me, even up in the clouds?

Or do you mean hold onto anger?

Because in a strong woman's

heart forgiveness is not allowed.

Be a lady, are you sure

that's what you said?

Ok, I will have multiple

Men in and out of my bed.

Wait, okay, that's not

what you meant?

Oh yea, I forgot to get

the money afterwards to cover the rent.

And don't let me forget to

leave the cabinets bare,

my kids home alone scared,

calling my friends to see

if they might know who I'm

with, when, and where?

So that's not it either?

I must be confused

I've only known women

to be bitter, sad, broke,

and used.

Everything in life being

A constant struggle.

Like a professional acrobat,

The day-to-day's get juggled.

You will have to forgive the

Blank stare that I have

on my face.

I was completely unaware

That in this world I had a place.

More like a rat race,

my dad caught the case,

so my mom took his place.

In the blink of an eye,

it must have slipped her mind

That there were two little ladies

watching, my sister and I.

Dropped into the sea of life,

it was Hurricane Season,

we barely made it out alive.

Just doing whatever it took to survive.

Then one day it hit me,

If I don't know a lady

how could I ever be a wife?

Don't judge me, it's clear

we didn't have a similar life.

It's only a part of my story,

the chapter i titled "pain and strife"

My book continues to be written

each and every day.

And I only look back as a reminder that I've came a long damn way!

So please be easy on my soul,

Respect my growth,

and be kind to my spirit.

Cause it's not easy to

know love when you were

always taught to fear it.