Who are not born strong

(For Joyce, inspired by Joyce)

O girl-child
I learn today that you are not born strong
Yes, woman-child
You are not born strong
And mother, crone,
Goddess
You are not born strong

It has always been said:
Girl, your body is frail
Woman, your heart is fragile
Crone, your flesh is feeble -
      Above all, womankind
      Your will is weak

I thought my heart was fragile -
Thought it breakable
Imagined it unmendable -
Therefore I guarded it with utmost vigilance
Protected myself most carefully:
I thought I could not withstand any blows
Because

Dear girl-child
You are not born strong
Yes, woman-child
You are not born strong

O womankind
I learn today that you are not born strong
No, goddesses
You are not born strong -

You grow strong:
Become stronger

Under the punishing burden of everyday life
Your shoulders strengthen
Under the backbreaking pressure of life’s every day
Your backbone straightens
Steels

And every day
You grow stronger still

You can only grow stronger

And despite it all
O girl-child
O woman-child
Who are not born strong
Mother, Crone,
Goddess
Who are not born strong:

Despite it all
O Womankind
You are so much stronger than you think you are -
Far more stronger than they think you are -
      I begin to believe
      I am so much stronger than I think I am

Who are not born strong
Grow strong

Become stronger