A Poem

 

My first poem in English:

“Be Warned” [Red Hat Blue Shoes] 

Inspired by Jenny Joseph’s poem “Be Warned.” 

Yes, I am forty-something

and I match blue shoes

with a red hat and a red dress

 Some say I am “too old” to learn new things

But I do it anyway

I dance, bang on drums

Hop on motorcycles

Go hiking at night

 

Yes, I am “crazy.”

I travel alone and go to concerts.

Maybe I should thank

All the people who said

“You should” and “shouldn’t.”

I want to celebrate life

Celebrate the unfinished lives

Of my friends who died young

 

So, my friends

Let’s celebrate life

wear a red hat with blue shoes

Bang on a drum and dance!

May 21, 2005

Don’t Try to Change Me

Be careful brother

I am not a girl anymore

Stop labeling me

Marxist, liberal, leftist

 

Be careful darling

I am mad like a woman

not like a little girl

I am a feminist

 

I was not born with anger

Boys playing with my nerves

You can't do it, girl

Made me mad and powerful

 

Laugh at me one more time

Be sarcastic again

Awaken the beast in me

I am an angry feminist!

 

July 20, 2020