Three Generations of Women

In the upbeat city of lights

in the robust ghetto lived

Rosalind with her baby girl

Rosalind work 9 to 5 in the day

and 11-4 in the night

She could not afford to miss work

It came a time that she was too

busy to take care of her baby girl

She asked her mother to care

for the girl promising

to help her pay bills and insisting

on her mother that she can

be the mother that she could not be

because of her economic condition, poverty

As the girl grew, her grandmother

begin teaching her about values

and their importance

The girl listened and accepted

the values of her grandmother

Rosalind climb a social class

she did not have to work so hard

She told her mother, her daughter's grandmother

that she can take over

and raise her daughter the way she wanted

The girl heard them arguing about her

one day and stood up to Rosalind

and Rosalind tried to get her

back in line but the girl used her

grandmother's lessons and words

as a verbal weapon of defense

She excused her daughter with a warning

Rosalind shouted at her mother saying

how dare you Mom, teach her that. Teach my child

how to rebel against me. She's not grown.

I am her mother.

Her mother replied I accepted your offer

because I love you. I did not necessarily

need you to pay for her or me. As your mother

it is my responsiblity to take your place

not permanently but just enough to save

the next generations. Even if you don't

talk to me anymore, I forgive you for myself

and I love you.

Rosalind called for her daughter and

her daughter came and she said say goodbye

to your grandmother.

The girl could not say it and cried

Rosalind felt the heat of her daughter's rebellion

She did her studies but she refuse

to let her mother in her life.

She did this for a long time, long enough

where Rosalind called the girl

her grandmother's child regretting

and finally breaking down Rosalind called her mother

Rosalind gave the phone to the girl

And the girl tried to argue and came to order

The grandmother said I named you Rosa

after your mother as she allowed me to name you

Don't ever take what I say for granted

I love both of you equally

You are not my child but my grandchild

Rosalind heard her mother and her daughter

relented and Rosalind said you can see your

grandmother but I am your mother

I love you dearly and did everything for you

Make me proud like I want you to be proud

And girl signed in respect and love smiling

to Rosalind and they hug as hard as they can remember