CLXXI

Soft
And brave
That's what a woman is to me.
Soft
In the way that spiderwebs are strong.
Soft
As the close grip of a woman can only be
Of a mother, or a sister, or a friend
A sure hand clinging gently
Steadying soundly
Whispering sweetly
Roaring loudly. A woman
is all those things to me.

Brave
Is a difficult word
Being something you cannot see
But I've seen tempers
Rise and fall
I've seen buildings
Rise and fall
I've seen
Dead men
Rise
And fall
While a woman stands still, serene.
Something pure
About the bravery I've seen.
Soft
And brave
That's what a woman is to me

And I am her
And she is me


[Image: Michaela Kocianova for ELLE Czech]