She sat sipping air
through the tube in her nose
that stretches across
the length of the thin rubber hose.
Some see her as frail,
apparently nearing her end,
but to the ruthless fate
she never had her head bent.
Both tough and tender,
bread-winner and child-bearer.
Wax at times, wane at others,
disciplinarian and spirit teacher.
She views the world with the moon's eye,
with wisdom, at every fault and flaw,
seeing the pain beneath the lies
and inspiring all men's awe.
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