And, So It Is... Poem by Jackie Allen

She is woman and she has a mind to go
To work just so that she can hire a helper,  
A widow or a young girl for a couple of days
Maybe a part time baby sitter so that she might
Discover who she is apart from them.

He is man, and he has a mind that goes to work
So he can support his family, so that they can eat,
So that they can have a roof over their heads.
He is blessed he has a wife, a partner who
Loves him, supports him, cares for his children.

She is a woman and, yes, she has a mind.
If she had a job, she thinks she might be fulfilled;
And, like man, if she was then paid, she might feel
Like she had value, had worth, that she was more
Than the role that has usurped her education.

He is a man, and yes, he climbs the ladder,
Returning home at night, tired, sometimes
Visibly annoyed at the sight of the clutter,
Yet always pleased to see the happy faces
Of his precious family sitting around the table.

She is passionate and has undiscovered gifts
That propel her to discover, to see how far she can
Fly and if it is at all possible that she could reach
The top like her man, but unlike him, she bears
Children whose needs must always come first.

He is hardworking, has little time for leisure
Yet enjoys sleeping late on Sundays, a game
Of poker, or some silence to separate himself 
From the stress and pressures of his work
So that he might support his growing family.