Southern-Style

Order through Mercer University Press

American Woman

by S. B. Ramsey

Mary Andrews

Ceaseless racing going where?

Max Factor hides a soul laid bare

Vagabond--Liz Claiborne cool

Behind the wheel

    Of which carpool?

Cocktail chatter, Senseless prattle

Cosmo herd of stylish cattle.

Lots of talk, nothing to say,

We're here, We're there...

We're on our way.

                                                                        Orthodontist...

                                                                                                            Football Practice...

                                                 Music...

                                                                                Church...

                                                                                                                                                        And Dancing Lesson.

Modern Woman's new Imperative:

Always make a good impression.

Brittle smile, beguiling mask

Whose party, dear?

(Will she be asked?)

                                                                                Lover...

                                                                                                    Leader...

                                                                                                                            Mother...

                                                                                                                                                     Teacher....
                                                                                                                                                                            Worker....

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Boss....

What intense pressure!

Must life now be a marathon?

To be all things...

And count to none?

The Superwoman is all a lie

We here for a while

                                                                                                                                        And

                                                                                                                                                            then

                                                                                                                                                                           we 

                                                                                                                                                                                            die.

Grandmother knew

who she should be.

She laughed and listened

And shelled her peas.

Sang as she rocked,

And hugged babies

The mark she made

was not in figures

but in the hearts

Of

                                all

                                                                                who

                                                                                                                    knew

                                                                                                                                                            her.