She took her cod liver oil
laced her shoes in the dark
completed her paper round
spread her legs for the gynecologist
and occasionally, her husband
dutifully wiped enough asses
to qualify for sainthood
but life said
we don’t feel like being fair
you ate three biscuits when you were ten
that were not yours to eat
and you didn’t tell a soul least of all your grandmother
who would have slapped your wrists with her nylon slipper
greedy girls don’t find husbands!
greedy girls don’t go to heaven!
since then you didn’t take more than your portion
gave away your just desserts
why then should you bend over once more?
no, you say
I think I’ll stop carrying the world on my shoulders
because tomorrow may be the day I’m diagnosed or
a bus will hit me as I cross the street or
I may be tempted to eat 3 fairy cakes
we must live now
in the heat of our step
never unwilling to let go
and dance to the quiet music
in our heads