by Maya Angelou
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
how to fall in love without losing herself..
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....
how to live alone.... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
how to fall in love without losing herself..
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....
how to live alone.... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
how to fall in love without losing herself..
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....
how to live alone.... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...
What would you add as to what a woman should know and/or have?
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6 comments:
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a pair of comfortable shoes
perhaps attractive
perhaps not
and the confidence to wear them unapologetically.....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
enough love...
enough joy...
enough peace...
enough sorrow...
and enough wisdom to be thankful for them all...
How I love Maya. Wonderful.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a voice
that is heard, celebrated and noted.
I first gave this to my daughters 10 years ago, they are now in their mid-twenties and I always e-mail them pportions of it as reminders in their lives today--isn't it awesome! Thank you for sharing.
Come see me at http://abookinside.blogspot.com, I think we should exchange favorite Blog links!
@Linda
Thank you for visiting my blog. I love what you wrote. I think a woman (and I am being a bit biased here) should have the things that give her love, strength, courage, wisdom, peace, understanding, etc.
@septembermom
So true. I know every woman wants to be heard, respected, and valued. I feel the woman is a very nurturing individual that wants to give endlessly, but by the same token needs to be cared and loved in order to continue giving of herself to others.
@author101
Thank you for visiting my blog. I had not seen this poem before, but I really connected to it. How nice that you shared this with your daughters and still continue to draw from it. I will definitely visit your blog.
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