Silver strands woven into my hair

Finally growing into the body I always felt I was

older than my years inside

younger than my peers outside

with curves that called the flesh

and a mind that rejected the thought

of a permanent shallow existence

always older than my years

younger than I needed to look

always enough, but feeling not good enough

It took 48 years of pain, joy, suffering, happiness

anger, forgiveness, rejection, acceptance,

disillusion, honesty, to finally

fully realize, it was social conditioning

In a world of men, women can think too

I was never too loud or too much

I was always more than enough

Now it is your turn

To Hush

A letter on behalf of my Mother to her younger self.