I see her
soft-cheeked
young
but growing
making choices
as we all have done
will do
from the alter
to the job
to the children
to the college
the choice we say
it is a right
but what of the choice
is ours
society’s rules
the laws
they pound their gavel
the expectations
of lovers
of parents
unwritten
unknown
until we meet
them on our path
of life
these things
we should
we must
the pressure
rises
from within
planted by seeds
of society
of hope
the fairy tales
what are our choices
really
a woman older now
can balance and see
the younger feels the urges
motherhood calls her name
the career
the lofty thought
the home to build
these choices
cause a conundrum
and inside
the truth
lies buried
in the sparkling ring
the promises made
the compromises forged
from choice
a woman’s choice
is sacred
to be protected
and yet illusory
falling prey
to our own assumptions
of others
the webs
the ties
the woven lines of culture
a woman’s choice
fresh-cheeked
innocent
brush the hair
from your brow
walk forward
make a choice
it is yours
and not
a woman’s choice
is all of ours
through the years
combined
cascading
questioned
assumed
but in the end
we ride
our own
wave of choices
to find our truth
a woman’s choice
is hers.