day NINE HUNDRED and EIGHTY TWO

Women’s Work

They think it is just the
child care
or the care of the home

when they talk about

women’s work

but it is more
it is the labor
of lifting and carrying men
of making sure they are
emotionally sustained
that they are cared for
and loved
and promised that everything
will be okay

This is women’s work
as much
as managing accounts
and picking up the children
when they fall.

This is women’s work
as much as changing the coffee filter
and knowing which kid
on the soccer team has a peanut allergy.

We are open
to everyone
lovers and friends
coworkers and strangers
we with the power to heal all
because
thoughtfulness
and openness
are considered
only feminine

instead of human

We are the nurturers
which means
we are

feed

and you can come to us
mouths open
teeth bared
whenever your
hunger
matters more

than ours

--Ally Malinenko