she works
twelve hours a day
comes home
to work
until she finally can
pass out
for the night

she is
every woman
every mother
every sister
every wife

taken for granted
taken advantage of
taken
then forgotten

yet still
she smiles

the strength
it takes
to pull the corners
of her mouth up
is one beyond
understanding

she cooks
she cleans
she raises
she loves
she tends
she heals
she teaches

she deserves more
from a world
that only knows
how to take