I am a Woman

Though we were not friends

You stayed in my life for centuries at once

And screamed and fought with my big sister.

Watching above in the loft

I witnessed the feelings you claimed to be lost

Of which clearly existed, expressed in another form

Endlessly

Deafening bellows awoke the neighbors

But you stuck to your guns

Void of emotions, you claimed              ignorantly

As your indisputable male voice roared

Throughout the kitchen

Throughout the yard

Throughout next door

Throughout the city

            I can’t live in this house of women

            You’re all so emotional, you’d say.

            Painting your nails, doing your make-up.

            Wearing your dresses, singing your songs.

            Jesus Christ, you all and your feelings.

I am a Woman.

But it was you whose anger would reverberate throughout the streets

on any given day

Endlessly

A shout at my mother here, a table turned there

Your snide comments limitless

Booming       radiating

Changing the otherwise gay, as you’d call it, energy

A man, a mask.

A multitude of palpable passion.

Yes, I am a Woman.

But not even my emotions run that high.  

- Carmen Iben