Too Good!!

Why is it that we are constantly apologizing
for not knowing how to cook like his mother
for working till late on that end review and miss serving that evening cup of tea
for forgetting that it was time to refill his medicine cabinet
for not wanting to immediately start a family

Why is it that we are constantly apologizing
for not being too scared to have a voice
for not being too shy to burst into peals of laughter
for sharing stories sprinkled with songs of our freedom
for not being afraid to spread our wings and soar, unaided

Armed with knowledge ancient to this age
traditions archaic to these times
each of us stood ideally by, victim or perpetrator
as patriarchy seeped into the pores of our skin
lessons delivered by men and women alike

Because why else would I be apologizing
for knowing more about something than he does
for ending the month with one more zero on my paycheck
for not wanting to be labelled according to society’s whims
for being my own person and not function based on the identity decided by my reproductive organs

Taught from The Book of Values – Woman Edition
I was always supposed to stand one step behind
be strong, but not too strong
educate myself, but not too much
have an opinion, but don’t differ from his
earn a living but show that it’s not enough

Then no wonder that now
more empowered than ever before
stronger than I have ever been
at the crowning genesis of everything I could possibly be
I’m still apologizing for being me.