Story from my days as a single mother in a mostly married city… Amy
WOMEN, WOMAN
In a sea of Marthas
she remained the Magdalene
Neither wanton, nor wayward, still
different, misunderstood
Her gestures of sisterhood
looked upon as threats by
the many married mommies
who kept their men on short leashes, well-heeled
Had they taken time
to listen to her thoughts
How she cared for their town
How she admired their ability to maintain stability
They might have warmed to her
But women are women, and
wives are wives, gathered in hives
And single mothers lead separate lives
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
Debbie
this one . . .broke my heart some. and that’s a good thing. Thank you, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Debbie, have you seen this stuff take place? It was SUCH a disappointment to me, being shunned like I had a scarlet letter or something!
Debbie
I don’t think I experienced it to the extent you did, Amy. But I’m so sorry that you did. It hurts me that it hurt you when you needed fellowship the most. I wasn’t a single mom, but with an unbelieving husband, often function as one and also judged . . . a lot. 🙂 loved the red soft carpet that stings line too!
Sharp Little Pencil
Debbie, I do know the “slings and arrows” of people who proclaim “Lord! Lord!” in church while judging those in the next pew. Drives me nuts. Unfathomable, really, when you read the Gospels. Oh well, we’re all flawed, each in our own way! Peace, Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh I so relate to this! Single mothers, just wanting friendship, perceived as a threat. So well written!
Sharp Little Pencil
Sherry, you hit the nail on the head, as usual. And really, most of us just wanted to get along, to be among other women without having labels… Thank you so much, hon. A
ms pie
hello amy love the content rolled out like a red soft carpet that stings… is oh so real for us single ladies amongst the married… now i laugh carefree, unfazed by my sisters and our unseen chains… so sad, it’s worse in church… ouch!
Sharp Little Pencil
Tell me about it. I’m a pastor’s wife!! I take special care to welcome our single moms, because of that old prejudice. Also, because my hubby is a pastor, I see sides of the church most people don’t have to deal with – the committees, the backbiting…
I really appreciate the “rolling out like a red soft carpet that stings,” you should use that phrase in a poem, because it’s excellently written.
I was a single mom when I met Lex and practically had to review his FBI file before I’d date, because I had a girl child, and you can’t be too careful. But I met him in church and now he’s a pastor, and he and my daughter (now 22, in LA) have an excellent relationship. Appropriate, always.
poetcolette
Before I read the other comments, I wanna say a lil’ somethin’. I don’t think it’s simply the fact you were single, they hitched; the same thing has happened to me in so-called play groups, and I was married, so were all the others; however, being a “different breed,” I was also shunned by the rest of those TV-watchin’, fashion-followin’ mommas. They simply had no room in their space for any substance. LOL! All the same, my aunt has told me the same thing about the stigma of married v. single, yet I have to consider also the fact that she is ALSO a biAtch = brilliant, intelligent, Amazing, totally cool human!!!! And that is hard to swallow for most of the masses. So it may not have been merely the single/married dichotomy at play in your heartbreaking experiences with the other moms, but one of several. You are smart and real–two things very hard to swallow by many. Love you, girl! Miss ya too.
Sharp Little Pencil
Amazing. Hypocrisy and snobbery run rampant. Thanks for giving me your view on this, including the details of your experience.
You, too, are savvy and oh, so real, Colette. I miss you too and will be up to speed soon! Amy
uponthewingsofnight
This poem speaks to me directly even though I’m male. To me it’s about being shunned for being perceived as being different. I did not date in high school at all because of this misconception on everyone else’s part. To have it happen when you are a single mother is even worse.
Sharp Little Pencil
Not only was I a divorced mom (yeah, just pin a Scarlet Letter to all my clothes!), I also never had a single date in high school. Talk about a sucky “twofer,” huh?! I’m always gratified when men take these “estrogen poems” (hoping one day to write an Estrogen Cycle, ha ha) seriously, to really “get it.” Guess that’s why you’re a poet. A