*Author's note: When I copy and paste my work from word I cannot get the spaces in-between the lines to go away, and it never creates the stanzas that I have in place, and it's so frustrating. Any help with this? Just so you know, it was suppose to be a new stanza every four lines.*
Slithering under the comforter,
sliding on my house shoes,
and tiptoeing to the bedroom door,
I am careful not to wake you.
As the door creaks,
I watch you to make sure dreamland still envelopes you.
I don't even bother closing the door,
as I walk slowly as first down the lavender carpeted stairs.
I can no longer see them beneath my feet;
I just have to trust that they are there.
As my belly bounces with each step,
I consider the earthquake that must be happening inside.
Making it to the kitchen,
I quiet my insides with just the smell of the hot chocolate.
Wrapping my hands around the warmth of the mug,
I close my eyes and dream of what she'll be like.
Of course, she'll have your light blonde hair,
if any at all.
Of course, she'll inherit your grey-blue eyes,
the ones that dance at my sight.
She'll be chubby and short,
loud and needy,
but what will she get from me;
not much, I hope.
I chance a sip of the steaming mug,
and rub the abdomen that has now become her home.
I didn't invite her here, but her daddy sure did.
How could I refuse those soft hands, those gentle words?
I knew from day one I would be a terrible mother.
So, why are we here in this place?
I know what she'll learn from me,
my anxiety, long nights of worrying and drinking hot chocolate.
For a second, I close my eyes and try to imagine our future life.
A messy living-room, home cooked meals in the oven,
homework strewed across the table, daddy and her in the back yard.
But, where do I fit in?
A messy bun, worn down make-up,
cleaning off the table, regretting her,
yearning for my other life,
the one that never got a chance to blossom.
Before I can open my eyes,
a pair of strong, calloused hands rub my shoulders.
“You're always so tense these days, hmm”
A kiss on my cheek gives him time to think.
“Can't sleep?”
A kiss on his cheek leaves room for the growing distance between us.
How could he ignore my unhappiness so easily?
“Oh you know, the baby's awake, so I'm awake.”
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Hi there!
I had the same problem with the spacing. all you have to do is press enter between each stanza, and then put a space or a period there so it thinks there's writing in that line. Other than that, you'd have to do basic coding type things that r easy but I forgot how to do them.
Hope this helps a bit! P.S. loved the poem and the way you approached sexism. I like the use of characters and the portrayal of their emotions in the piece. Keep up the good work!!
-E
This is absolutely heartbreaking. I really like this perspective on sexism, just by speaking from the perspective of an ordinary woman and highlighting her unhappiness with life being trapped in a role she doesn't want because it's what her society insists on.
I don't really understand the structure of the poem, the lines are all different lengths and there doesn't seem to be much of a pattern (though this may be as you said the problems with formatting). In a way, this could almost work as a short story rather than a poem.
The narrative itself is well written- it's a good choice to have the action of the wife going to get hot chocolate and explain her story as she does it. Overall, it's an excellent poem which presents its message very effectively.
Thank you so much for the feedback. yeah, I might make it into a short story. I really didn't know the direction of this poem as I was writing it, but you're right, it is about sexism and a woman's role in society.
In order to create stanzas what I do is use the hyphen to create a line between. That will provide the spacing.
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thanks for the help