Photo: Angela Sevin/Flickr

The strength of a woman is carrying the burden of family without
expectation that someone will feel her pain or cry her tears.

The strength of a woman is the first one to wake up and
the last to go to bed.

The strength of a woman is to pretty and doll up all the masks
she has to wear in order to survive.

The strength of a woman is crying herself to sleep at night then
embracing you in the morning with a hug and a smile.

The strength of a woman is my mother,
a woman who says she’s okay when you can tell she’s in pain,
a woman who smiles when the going gets tough and
a woman who finds laughter after crying.

The strength of a woman is to raise a child she does not know.
The strength of a woman hears a child’s cry and
knows exactly what they want.

The strength of a woman is courage and independence.
The strength of a woman is doing whatever it takes to survive.
The strength of a woman is the backbone that holds everyone together
. . . behind every strong man there is a strong woman.

The strength of a woman is her ability
to hold her tongue when her significant other is wrong
to stop her children from misbehaving with a look in her eye
to pick herself up and dust herself off
to make her family smile in the midst of a storm
to multi-task and adapt to different situations
to swallow her pride.

The strength of a woman is her unconditional love
for her children and others.
The strength of a woman is to be a peacemaker.
The strength of a woman is to be able to feel things no one else can.
The strength of a woman is to be able.
The strength of a woman is having faith in God,
for she knows God is the only one that has her back.
Helping others when they are in need,
always there to take the lead.
Suffering hard times not for long,
because her will is very strong.
Makes you happy with lots of jokes,
most importantly they are jokes of hope.
Her colors are beautiful—scarlet red—
lots of blessings upon her head.
The strength of a woman we’ll always know,
because her strength will always show.

Founded in 1994, New Foundations is a non-profit organization located on St. Paul’s East Side that provides permanent, supportive, affordable housing and comprehensive on-site services for homeless dually diagnosed chemically dependent and mentally ill adults in recovery and their families.

Posted in: Poetry
Tagged: 2010, women