For Every Woman

by Nancy Smith

For every woman who is tired of acting weak
when she knows she is strong,
There is a man who is tired of appearing strong
when he feels vulnerable.

For every woman who is tired of acting dumb,
There is a man who is burdened with the constant
expectation of knowing everything.

For every woman who is tired of being called
emotional female, There is a man who is denied
the full right to weep and be gentle.

For every woman who feels tied down by her children,
There is a man who is denied the full pleasure
of shared parenthood.

For every woman who is denied meaningful
employment and equal pay,
There is a man who must bear full financial
responsibility for another human being.

For every woman who was not taught the
intricacies of an automobile,
There is a man who was not taught
the satisfaction of cooking.

For every woman who takes a step towards
her own liberation, There is a man who
finds that the way to freedom has
been made a little easier.

***

I like this poem. We play different roles in life, yet if we watch close enough, we are all equal. We all have ups and downs, strengths and weaknesses, and we all are NOT perfect individuals. Nobody is.