Kati's poem

This is a post from my dear friend Kati who lives far away in Maine. Kati is married to a lovely gent. She is just finishing her bachelors in womens studies. The rest will speak for itself.

Inception

I came into a woman’s world,

my ever-present brother revolving in a zodiac of female constellations.

I came up into a woman’s realm

laundry, dusting, poetry, rain

all belonged to us, the sisterhood of the rowdy.

I came up into a woman’s code—

obedience, deference, selflessness—in public.

I came into reality of women’s lives

independently thinking and speaking our unfathomable minds.

I came up to the Virgin and saw she was crying;

she does not believe Eve is lost.

I came into classrooms and libraries and believed without being told

I belonged there.

I ran into a world of women’s don’ts and found them wanting,

I ran into the maze of mutilationous teenage yearnings,

I learned to ask why and who for.

Came up in a Southern Christian home

but our accents were not as sweet as they should have been,

we spoke our thoughts too often and close for comfort.

Came into adulthood without a trace of make-up,

Came into the world voracious for experience,

I came up into a place that is not fair: man-

eat-dog-world and we eat you for breakfast.

I came up to the city to live raw,

learning for myself what I can/not do.

I came into an old house and learned to sit

with the silence of loneliness, breathing a broken yes.

I came up into fire and uncontrollable lust for life and laughter,

alcohol-soaked nights, sweat-soaked mornings.

I came into cathedrals and rest stops and diners.

I chose to love a ragged man.

I came up into the dishes, the books, the knots, the wisdom.

I walked up into the halls of learning,

I only believe half of what they tell me.

I came into a woman’s world.

I did not know it at the time.