(A) Broad(‘s) Shoulders
Waking on the blue couch, before dawn
Muscles stiff with the fear they remembered
waking on the blue couch before dawn
after a short deep sleep
waking on the blue couch before dawn
muscles stiff with the fear they remembered
but her mind did not
She has broad shoulders
She has a broad’s shoulders
Rising with the dawn
came the memory
came the vision
Rising with the dawn
came the vision
she could stay
Rising with the dawn
turning in the kitchen’s yellow light,
blind to all
it would happen again and again
She has broad shoulders
She has a broad’s shoulders
A broad can only bear so much
if only we knew, if only we’d see
A broad can only bear so much
came the memories, came the vision
A broad can only bear so much
Bare arms bear
No arms
You can’t keep your family safe here
She has broad shoulders
She has a broad’s shoulders
Waking on the blue couch
rising with the dawn
came the memories
Waking on the blue couch
rising with the dawn
came the vision
Waking on the blue couch
before dawn
She rose into that morning
She walked her children out that door.
She has broad shoulders
She has a broad’s shoulders
I really loved this Mary. It’s wonderful that you turned the sometimes derogatory term “broad, into “broad” shouldered strength. Me being a broad shouldered woman myself (in all respects) felt touched by this poem. It was like having an arm thrown across my broad shoulders by a friend.
Thank you Cela! This song is for all the “broad shouldered” women who have had to face living in an abusive situation — deciding whether it is right to stay or leave, for them, in that situation, for their family. It’s also for facing all of life’s difficulties that require a broad’s shoulders — finding strength and love to keep going, as women can do!