WORKING WOMAN

My life's no longer regimented
By YOUR nine to five
Getting up in the mornings
To be the dutiful wife

Cooking YOUR breakfast
Laying out YOUR clothes
Readying the children and then
Helping them cross those roads

Then preparing the meals
And cleaning throughout the day
Waiting for the kids to come home
And listening to what they say

Dolling up in the evening
To greet you when you return
Listen about YOUR business deals
YOUR office, YOUR achievements by turn

Making sure the kids study
While you sat before the television
Then served you food and wash once more
Seemed to be my life's only mission

But now I have my own business
And my own interests to pursue
I'll be home as soon as I can
And I can no longer take care of you

Work and those e-commerce classes
Followed by a client meeting or two
Leaves me little time and energy
To come back and cook for you

The children are both adults now
It's time they took care of themselves
If they don't wish to cook, like you
They can eat from the cans off the shelves

I'm hardly home these days now
It's your turn to keep the place clean
You know I am more busy than you
I'm not doing this to be mean

Those 20 youthful years I serviced you
Don't you think they are enough
You'll realize how much they were worth
Stop complaining that life is now rough

I wasn't just the woman you wed
But more a maid for free
Most times a hollow for your seeds
Though you claim you cherished me

Let's talk business and take stock
Calculate the cost of jewels and sarees
Which you gave me so reluctantly
Saying money doesn't grow on trees

They add up to a lot less in cost
Had you hired a woman like me
Manager, mistress, maid and nurse
You got all these for free

Now that I claim my own life back
For the few years that I now have left
You complain and grow distraught
Like you've lost something to theft

Don't wait up for me honey, go to sleep
Make sure you don't latch the door
I'm sorry if you find these words
Make sentences you've heard before

As I said, I feel free now
My own interests to pursue
And just because I come home late
Doesn't mean I don't love you

~SUMAITRI~

Back

Home