The women who made me who I am
gave each other home perms
led Cub Scout dens and Brownie Scout troops
grew asparagus for the challenge of it
ran the swimming pool and coached the swim team.
The women who made me who I am
opened businesses
drove tractors
canned pickles
read voraciously.
The women who made me who I am
put meals on the table
put kids to bed
put petunias in the planter
put family first.
©Mary Lee Hahn, 2019
Happy International Women's Day! This poem's for you, Harriet, Verta, Rae, Phyllis, Rita, Vonnie, Evelyn, Adrienne, Joy, Bonnie, Rose Mae, Faye, and all the others whose names have left my memory, but whose mark remains.
Catherine has the Poetry Friday Roundup at Reading to the Core.
Next week, Heidi (my juicy little universe) is inviting us to join her in sharing Climate Change poems for the worldwide School Strike for Climate.
The women who made you who you are were practical, adventurous, curious, and giving. Beautiful tribute (and photo), Mary Lee.
ReplyDeleteYour women sound a lot like my women, Mary Lee.
ReplyDeleteI love this - especially the asparagus. Thank you! xo
ReplyDeleteYay! Happy IWD!!!
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, this is such a great list poem! Full of details and contrasts--love it. And it gives me such a sense of who you are, even if I didn't know you:>)
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky to have them in your life, Mary Lee. I feel lucky too to have so many that came before. Beautiful poem of gratitude!
ReplyDeleteReading about the women who have shaped us seems to have a common theme; in the ordinary things, women are great - and that is so empowering. I love your contrasting images each getting a nod - each so important!
ReplyDeleteWow, so good! I love all those different ways to be a woman!
ReplyDeleteI love all the concrete particulars and how varied they are. I love the very different use of put in the last line. Thank yo for sharing them with us.
ReplyDeleteWonderful!! So many of the traits you listed ring true for me too.
ReplyDeleteomg...grew asparagus for the challenge of it...might be one of my favorite lines of all time. Putting family first in all those wonderful, diverse ways. This poem blesses me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGreat list poem, Mary Lee. I love all the specific details about the women in your life!
ReplyDeleteI like that you chose to focus on "the 'women' who made me who I am" and also the repetition of this line. Strong poem thanks Mary Lee!
ReplyDeleteI know you've shared it before, but I have to tell you how much I love this photo of your mother! Your poem is a perfect celebration of the everyday work women do to make us who we are. There mark is indelible!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I was also struck by the asparagus line, the "put" repetition (I love how that word sounds like you've placed something solid on the table...), and the quiet, everyday work that these women did to sustain people and community.
ReplyDeleteTuesday afternoon--my latest PF commenting ever. I'm owning it!
ReplyDeleteI knew I recognized that face on the linkup...she's direct, friendly, ready for a laugh or an asparagus challenge, simple on the outside & complex on the inside. Your poem is as strong as all those women, that last stanza with the repeated "put" especially.I hadn't realized what a powerful word PUT is. (Maybe the hokey-pokey really is what it's all about...)
I love that driving tractors and canning pickles are paired in this poem, Mary Lee. Wonderful tribute!
ReplyDeleteOh, this one just tugs at my heart! All of the names just made me think I was hearing them at a ball game for the all star line up. Lucky you!
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