I had a note from an old friend this week, telling me about the path her life has taken over the past few years. She talked about how difficult it can be to be “big” as a woman – strong, competent, opinionated, right about things (!), refusing to fit the mold shaped for her by her upbringing. She is a trailblazer…
I am always so impressed at anyone who has the energy and courage to do this one simple thing: to be her- or him-self. Often at great personal cost, at least until the landscape is rearranged. For anyone doing the hard and holy work of being all they were made to be, this rondeau is for you. Keep going!
Breaking away
Don’t break the rules, they told you. It is not
Appropriate for you to take the spot
We’ve given you and use it to engage
In things that undermine our heritage.
Don’t question things, don’t cry, don’t stir the pot
Unless you’re making casserole, or hot
Meals for your man. Think twice before you trot
Out your own ideas. Girls of your age
Don’t break the rules.
This dying band assumed that they could blot
Out such a force of nature with a shot
Of god and apple pie. But all the rage
They vented only proved you’re at the stage
You’ll not survive if you, bound by their knot,
Don’t break the rules.
Penguin Poems 
I know this woman!
Andrew so many wonderful turns of phrase–my favorite..blot…with a shot of god and apple pie…brilliant!:-)
And as one of those women who has had to break the rules now and again, Thank you
it is pretty sad how we try to box people in you know and hold them to some code of heritage or …there had to be the rule breakers that were looked down upon to find that ultimate freedom or at least a step toward it and to them we owe much…
Thank you for this poem! This reminds me of one of my favorite sayings – Well-behaved women rarely make history. Nicely done!
LoveLOVE this, Andrew. Sara’s fave line is mine, too…but all those fantastic internal turns and rhymes are so awesome. And Mary, that’s one of my favorite quotes, too. I thought of it immediately. Fantastic poem, Andrew.
Love it! Trailblazing is a tough course — regardless of gender — but yes, one’s own nature plays a big part in the decisions made. Nicely done, Andrew — you rule-breaker! :-)) And, the wooden spoon …? Picture perfect! 🙂
This is a wow, Andrew. BRILLIANTLY penned!
I like your poem. My daughter, Teresa, told me about your new phase of life….Enjoy.