Wo (Oh) Man Poem by Umasree Raghunath

Wo (oh) man they called me bold
When life turned cold and stories untold

I held my tears with iron grace
Raised a child in a hollow space

When father died I filled the gap
No time to dream; no time to nap

When husband fell with empty hands
I built new homes on broken lands

One hand cooked while one wrote lines
Studied by night ignored the signs

Held the roof through wind and rain
Smiled through exhaustion pain by pain

Helped the weak though I was tired
Fired my will when hope expired

Lived for others gave my best
Carried burdens with no rest

No spotlight shone no trumpet sound
But I stood tall on shaky ground

Wo (oh) man not just a name
I burned alone yet stayed the flame.

Because I wanted to be like a man,
God sent me chances to be one many times!
Yet sometimes the woman I am
Cries out for wanting to be one in all!

Man or a woman
With HIS grace
Embrace life
As it gives! ! !

#UmasreeRaghunath