She...makes no excuses

She is soft and tender,

    but not in a posh pink kind of way,

 more like gooey marshmallows dripping

          in dark chocolate sauce and cherry wine

She's tough and resilient,

             yet unlike brittle nails,

      more like a vibrant lioness, protecting her cubs....

She doesn't need a knife to cut your heart out,

            one look, and you've turned to stone

She's playful in a big kitten with claws kind of way

          ...serious like Wuthering Heights

She garners her strength from within, 

   drawn to the moon's horizons, like rivers that flow to the sea

She is a woman standing strong within her glory and malfeasance,

          and she makes no excuses for her imperfections...

Author's Note

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Because her imperfections are hers and she embraces them....no one can take that away from her! What a glorious character study you have written here, Frieda. You speak of a strong willed woman with a heart as big as New Jersey! :) I enjoyed it very much. Lydi**

[Frieda P]

I knew you could relate to this one, you strong willed woman. :) Grazie mille, jazz'd you enjoyed.

[Lydia Shutter]

Oh, yea, I am that....no doubt about it! :)

[Benita-Staebell M - Kin..]

Well all us Woman Mothers will protect
our cubs and will harm whom ever try
in touch or hurt them in any way.


Very nicely Penned MS Frieda
thank you for sharing your thoughts
you're always real that is what I love
about your work.

I loved these Stanza's lines here.


more like a vibrant lioness, protecting her cubs....

She doesn't need a knife to cut your heart out,

one look, and you've turned to stone




Blessings. Benita/ Kindred poet

[Frieda P]

You're sweet Benita, thanks so much, I almost didn't recognize you with your new avatar....

[Benita-Staebell M - KindredPoet]

Ah well my name is there :) You're welcome. was a pleasure to read. Blessings. Benita/ Kindred poet

[willweb]

I see nothing imperfect here, just perfect words describing a very special woman. I really loved this poem tonight. No excuses, this was awesome.

[Frieda P]

Thanks so much Will, really glad you enjoyed this one.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like the contradictions she is...but definitely she can take care of herself, and anyone who messes with her.

like the Wuthering Heights reference...and always have to be careful of those claws...they can be suddenly extended...and bam. we are bleeding.

[Frieda P]

That's what woman are jacob, contradictions, you should know that by now :)

Thanks so much...yep those claws are a killer....

[jacob erin-cilberto]

gee, do ya think? three ex-wives later.

but i still love 'me....women that is, not all the exes...only one of them.

[Frieda P]

THREE? Oh geez, you are crazy...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

totally loony and getting loonier...but done with that stuff.

[Frieda P]

Holy I would hope so after three....

[jacob erin-cilberto]

so you don't think i should go for four eh??? ha ha..

well, lots of fuel for writing...

[Frieda P]

Only if you move to Hollywood :) Yes, now I know where you get all your material. ha

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we live and learn and write.

[Frieda P]

We can only hope for that second part, some of us are a bit slower eh? ;)

[Cory Barrett]

Why apologize. Let it be what it is, and play with the ones who like what it is. Let it all hang out!

[Frieda P]

Nope, no apologies here, thanks Cory.....!

[Ashira Macy]

My goodness Frieda, how did you know I would fall in love with this piece? Very feminist and beautifully stated. Would you mind if I shared this on my feminist facebook page?

I love how you illustrate her softness as well as her strength. Having one of course does not mean that you cannot be the other as well. Very, very strong ending, one of my favorite parts of the piece. She makes no excuses and she shouldn't have to, no one is perfect.

more like gooey marshmallows dripping
in dark chocolate sauce and cherry wine

Great lines, appealing to the reader's sight, smell, and taste.
Instant favorite.

[Frieda P]

You're too kind Ashira, I'd be more than honored, be my guest! Thrilled you felt this one...thanks so much.

[Ashira Macy]

Thank you, it was such a pleasure!

[kublakhan27]

OMG The site wiped out my entire review! I spent ten minutes on it! Ugh, I really need that walk now, but I'll try to paraphrase it as much as I can remember:

No surprises in this review Mrs.R, you already know what I'm going to say...this poem is Leonard all the way...I can't really explain how, but it's just full of his nuances...if you ever read more of his free verse stuff you'll probably get the idea...'she doesn't need a knife to cut out your heart'...that's Lenny all the way...and the way you reel of the list of what she is and isn't, that's something he would do too...you have channelled him as much as a female poet can channel him...perhaps it takes a woman to get on that wavelength of his...I'd kill to be able to write this way...I lost count of how many poems you wrote today Mrs.R, but the fact that you can come up with something like this, so late and so quickly...I'm speechless, just in awe...you'll never realize just how special a writer you are...I wish I had a fraction of your stamina...I still can't believe you did this under these circumstances...you're amazing...xo

[Frieda P]

I see it twice Steve, but leave it to the cafe...

[kublakhan27]

No surprises in this review Mrs.R...you've channelled Leonard as much as a female poet can channel him...I can't explain how but it's just full of his nuances...if you ever read more of his free verse stuff, I think you'll understand...'she doesn't need a knife to cut your heart out'...that's Lenny all the way ;) And the way you reel off the kind of woman she is and isn't...he's good at that too, better than I could ever dream of doing it...maybe it takes a woman to get on that kind of wavelength...oh well, I'll have to be content with Dali ;) I've lost count of how many poems you wrote today Mrs.R, but that fact that you could come up with something like this, so quick and so late, and after everything you've already written...I'm in awe of you, and you'll never realize just how much...xo

[Frieda P]

The biggest compliment I could ever get in my life Steve, who better to emulate than the master LC? You've touched my heart and humbled me my sweet friend. You know if I stop writing, I stop breathing hon. ;) Grazie mille xoxo

[kublakhan27]

Okay, so you did see the original after all...I'm glad for that, cuz that's the one I wanted you to see...of course the site still gave me a fit before I could be comforted by that ;P I think it's inevitable that you were going to write such an undisputed emulation of one of the grandmasters, definitely the grandmaster of our generation I would say...yes we both must keep writing...poetry is our breath ;) I'm so glad that I could touch you this deeply, it means the world to be able to do that :) xoxo

[Matching Socks]

This is such a wonderful poem Frieda.
I can imagine many women reading this and saying 'right on, that's me!'
Very relatable.
Beautiful, fave for sure.

[Frieda P]

Thanks Ance, I was hoping it'd be relatable!

[AprilRN1210]

Heck yea! Never make excuses for who you are... Especially when it is a bright, beautiful, bold spirit like yours.. no ma'am... Take pride in the tough steel, the tender romance, and the nurturing caring sides equally. We are all unique, special, and awesome... That moxy speaks to my sass, and knows the song well... We may be soft and gooey but we can knock em dead with just a look.. You rock.. as always..

[AprilRN1210]

did you misspell the title?..... giggling, its not just me that does that:)

[Frieda P]

My sentiments exactly, I knew this one would speak to you girlfriend! Thanks so much April, you are aces my friend.

[AprilRN1210]

wheeeew, and here I thought I was the joker... wahooo... thank ya ma'am.. you're more than welcome... for sure...

[Frieda P]

Ha yeah I did thanks for the pick up!!