POEM - Strong Women Only: Juggling a Plus

You are a strong woman

Like crossing the plains

Circling the wagons

Uphill both ways in the snow

Fighting off the savages

Mama bear defending her cubs

Teeth bared, claws sharp and extended

Enough to scare a man dead

Just by a look from your wild eyes

You are this kind of strong

Which makes me feel good

That there are still things you need me for

There are still calls that only I can handle

I guess that it can be hard to change a battery

When you are all claws and teeth

And hard to fix the plumbing

When you are worried about the defenses

And painting a wall can distract

When savages and their stratagem threaten

For all of those situations

I’m glad to be asked

To take care of the tedium

With you watching my back

Making sure I am not injured

What with the awkward positions I get in

Repairing this and that

In diverse nooks and crannies

One hand holding a caliper in place

The other jacking up the car a little more

Or my finger plugging the leaky faucet

While I am sprayed and splashed

Waiting for the pressure to subside

We have a good thing going

This symbiotic little dance we do

And in closing I must mention

I am always amazed

How you can make a glass of water appear

Just when I was thinking it might be nice

And I know supper is on

And the kids are complaining

But you still make my head spin

Watching the jumble of brightly colored balls

Kept up in the air by you