Woman’s Glory (according to man), by Robin White

The Arnolfini Portrait, by Jan Van Eyck (Flanders, modern Belgium) 1434

Woman’s Glory (according to man)

Because I could stop for death
By:  Emily Dickinson
“Because I could not stop for death -
He kindly stopped for me -
The carriage held but just ourselves -
And immortality.”

Tearing down, backward progress to
time smeared with vaseline glasses,
pretty, only in distorted 
reality of benefit
to warlords brave behind the screens,
dissecting hard fought, won freedoms.
Afraid of irrelevancy-
If not needed as provider,
What worth?  Murder autonomy.
Because I could not stop for death:

Refusing to bow,
to give in, to give
up - no submission.
Stand against hard blows -
future in peril,
hold strong and prevail;
Absorb the bruises,
ignore the voices
angry and loud as
He kindly stopped for me.

Bow strings taut with accusations:
You are too much, yet not enough;
Allow the soft light to infuse,
blurring hard edges, revealing
glowing beauty of womanhood.
Lean into the arms that protect:
Just pray, obey, keep sweet as your
rights fade into your true purpose:
Support, submit… isolate as
The carriage held but ourselves.

There is no greater 
blessing than to give
your life, your soul, your
essence to home, hearth.
Your beauty to him.
Your body to him.
Exalting on high
his manly ego -
you achieve glory
and immortality. 

Robin White

Robin is a lifelong creative: poet, writer, painter, collagist, and mixed media artist.  She was born and raised in a small gown in Georgia, USA and can drive on a wet red clay road without going in the ditch.  She loves music from gospel to hair metal.  Going thrifting and antiquing followed by good food and good company is a perfect day.   Her dream is to live on the beach at her favorite place in the world, Jekyll Island, GA.