by Rachel Toalson | Poetry, Wing Chair Musings featured
How to Be a Woman
don’t speak too loudly
don’t disturb
don’t argue
don’t assert yourself
let them do
what they will do
shake it off
let it be
pretend it
doesn’t matter
play the part
make the grade
dress for success
by which we mean
show us your skin
and make sure
you’re perfect
always perfect
forever perfect
this is how
to be a woman
How to Be a Real Woman
take off your makeup
let down your hair
take a good look
at your naked face
in the mirror
and smile
stand tall without
the whole world
on your shoulders
believe in beauty
and know
you are
beautiful
say what you mean
in your own voice
in your own language
don’t let them tell you
who to be
or what to look like
or how to live
choose for yourself
and then stand strong
proud
true
this is how
to be a real woman.
This is an excerpt from This is How You Know: a book of poetry. For more poetry, visit my starter library, where you can get some for free.
by Rachel Toalson | Poetry
The darkest part of the morning, according to depression
The number of people in her graduating class
The time they met every day for a mid-afternoon tryst
The number of times she filed away a rejection letter
The exact time he told her it wasn’t going to work out after all
The number of steps it takes to get from the mailbox back home
The time she stood on the ledge and decided not to jump
by Rachel Toalson | Poetry
He drove with
no real purpose in mind.
I think he just liked driving,
liked how it felt
to leave anywhere and
not know if he would
ever return.
by Rachel Toalson | Poetry
five minute checkins
tag-teaming to bedtime
open communication
on nights kids
actually go to sleep
before your bedtime
a kiss every time
you leave the house
and when you return
some longer than others
a locked door
the nights you just
need time alone
without guilt
clinging to the sheets
dishes done for one
notes left for another
because you love
differently
staying on the same side
no matter what
engaging arguments
that don’t always resolve
but knowing you’re not
going anywhere
choosing good assumptions
choosing forgiveness
choosing love
falling into bed
at the end of a long day
with arms that
wrap and hold
and set the world
right again
weekends away
just the two of you
so you remember why
you fell in love
in the first place
this is how
you stay married
after children
This is an excerpt from This is How You Know: a book of poetry. For more poetry, visit my starter library, where you can get some for free.
by Rachel Toalson | Poetry
get your hopes up
and feel them
fall flat
maybe it will work
maybe not
maybe struggle
is all you’ll
ever get
maybe giving up
would just be easier
it always is
but you’ll pull through
you’ll keep going
you’ll figure it out
you know
it’s who you are
this is how
you keep swinging
This is an excerpt from This is How You Know: a book of poetry. For more poetry, visit my starter library, where you can get some for free.
