7th grade, standing in her carpeted bathroom.
Told her I didn’t think college was for me.
A tight lipped lasered eyed mother,
Took me by the shoulders.
With severity not often heard by her sweet mouth,
She said to me:

“There’s nothing in this world for a woman
Without an education.”

I didn’t yet understand women had only
Had their own bank accounts since the
Time of her youth.

I thought she’d been
Scolding me.
Maybe she was begging me to not repeat,
A path under her feet.