Another Sunday Scribblings prompt on the “life swap” theme. I’ve always marveled at women who really had it together. I’m of the frazzled variety, and coming from a show business family, I wondered about those amazing corporate women who make their way in “a man’s world.” So this is a composite of several women I know – not quite Joan Crawford, not quite Eve Arden, but somewhere in between…
A Woman of Distinction
The woman is serenely composed
as she glides through the office
Her confidence, no disguise
No butterflies occupy her stomach
as she presents the new marketing plan
She’s well turned out, head to toe
Tastefully dressed, impeccably accessorized
The uniform of the sincerely driven
She’s punctual, tactful, precise
Respected by all in every way
She fears neither boss nor client
Her work ethic exceeds that of the CEO
One day, she will occupy his corner office
He told her as much over scotch and water
in the Executive Dining Room last week
Never had to sleep her way to the top
Worked hard to climb the corporate ladder
Started as an associate in Accounts
She knows the names of everyone
from the elevator guy to the whole cleaning crew
Raised by a single mother on the Lower East Side
They were always reading, writing, creating, talking
Mama showed her daughter how to get along with anyone
and now the little girl, grown up, repays the debt
as her mother basks in the Florida sun, a phone call away
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore, Sharp Little Pencil
A PRAYER FOR THE ONE WHO WATCHES AND WAITS
She sits
She waits for the nurse’s words of – assurance?
Reversing crossed legs, she rehearses responses
for the outcome of this round
Doors part, she holds her breath, guards her heart
and exhales as the news pours forth
He’s stable, able to speak, to move
Readying himself for the next step in the process
the peculiar art of surviving survival
But she
knows the names of every nurse on every shift
And she
knows the feel of styrofoam against her lips
the acid burn of instant coffee
The gelatinous gruel they call gravy
instant whipped condensed processed creamy cafeteria mashed potatoes
(damn, forgot to bring my muesli…)
She watches and waits and can’t using her cell phone
She sits on a plastic chair in a sweltering waiting room
with a flat-screen TV bigger than an MRI
Idol’s on
She stares without seeing, numb
hoping for good news to come
She’s alone for now
She likes it that way, when people stay away
they say they pray for him every day
She sits. She waits. She prays.
And God watches over her tonight
by the light of a fluorescent full moon
(c) 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 