on women’s empowerment

i grew up in church,
was told it was my
purpose in life to keep
a home, a man well-fed, bear
godly children. even my name was
a sting - it meant honey bee. i saw
my mom, how unhappy she was and
thought: i will choose a diff'rent life.
so i chose art, so as not to be
stuck behind a desk. i wanted to
be free. so many women lit the way. i
wouldn't be here today if not for them.
gloria, frida, georgia, my hero