women
with hair brighter than the sun
with stories better than Shakespeare
surrounded by greatness
each generation better than the last
faster
stronger
smarter
and here I am
the broken chain in the link
the lost woman
ambition
stronger than the last
intelligence
stronger than the last
dignity
stronger than the last
will to live
stronger than the last
grandma held her head up high
stronger than everyone around her
fighting for her rights
to live, to breathe, to see
fighting for her life
mom held her hand in the air
smartest in the classroom
smartest in the office
yet silenced in her home
I held my smile up high
as it began slipping off my face
was working to be strong
and yet
I failed every step of the way
I lost every piece of myself
I failed every woman before me
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