I'll tell you the story of Mary Louise
Who bought into all that others believe

She listened, and pondered, and so rarely spoke
and followed the bible of most other folks.

She made no decisions without consultation.
Her mind was not hers it was other's reflections.

She married the first man who made her feel pretty.
He said she was lovely and once called her witty.

and then in the household he showed her the way
to please him, obey him, become his own clay.

The mold was too large, she did not fit
The statue he made was devoid of her wit.

The day that she cracked and came out of the mold
he tried to restrain her and shame her, he told.

"She's Crazy", restrain her,"Don't let her believe
she's special or worthy. Don't let her deceive."

"She needs to stay home. She knows how to give.
She's defying the edicts we all know to live."

But somehow, within her a new soul evolved.
She started to question, and cipher and solve.

and as she left, she would ponder it all,
discovering how she had never been small.

And lonely with sadness, and burdened with grief,
she breathed the new air with a strong, new belief.

That Mary Louise was witty and strong.
No new man could tell her where she belonged.

Her face glowed with laughter at what she had been.
She slowly emerged from the sad child within.

And in this story the woman I see
is known to this writer, simply as me.