To Be Born, To Die

To be born-
a woman must labor.
To be born-
a man is expected to help.
To be born-
a woman should feel she deserves it.

To be born a woman is to know-
that we must labor to be beautiful,
even when we are not (or don't want to be.)

To be born a woman is to know-
that we are expected to want to marry,
just because he wants us.

To be born a woman is to know-
that we must stand by that man,
especially when he doesn't deserve it.

To die a woman is to know-
that we failed to be beautiful,
especially to ourselves.

To die a woman is to know-
that we are expected to go gracefully,
even when we want to kick and scream.

To die a woman is to know-
that we must lie beside that undeserving man,
in his family plot, for eternity.

To die-
a woman must labor.
To die-
a man is expected to help.
To die-
a woman should feel she deserves it.