Tonight I was watching a play, Kiss Me, Kate, based around my least favorite Shakespeare play, The Taming of the Shrew. The Cole Porter play isn’t a great play, and the ending is as annoying as that of Shakespeare’s, but it does have a couple of good songs. And it inspired a poem. So here it is.

THE SHREWING OF THE TAME

 Be a woman.
Be mild.
Don’t talk back.
Don’t assert yourself.
Smile.
Care for others.
Don’t talk back.
Don’t ever talk back.

 I’ll be a woman.
I’ll get along.
I won’t impose my will on others.
In fact, I won’t mention
What I want at all.
We go where you want to go.
We live where you want to live
We eat what you want to eat.
I wear what you want me to wear.
I drive what you want me to drive.
You are the man.
I am the woman.
I am mild.
I won’t talk back.
I’ll smile
And take care of you
And make you happy.
Please tell me you are happy.

 It isn’t enough.
It’s never enough.
I can’t dress today.
My make up smeared.
My hair frizzed.
My smile wouldn’t stay on my face.
I can’t eat.
I can’t sleep.
I can’t breathe.

 You want more.
You walk out.
You leave me hooked up
To the machines meant to save my life.
You say good-bye.
You say you don’t want to see me again.
You say nothing more.
You close the door.
You leave.

 Hello, who are you?
It’s been a long time.
I haven’t cared for anyone
In years.
Not even myself.
Nice to meet you.
Sit down.
Let’s visit.
Let’s get to know each other.

 But I need to let you know
I will talk back.
I will assert myself.
I will share my wishes and my desires.
I won’t always smile.
I might lie in bed with depression some days
And be full of cheery energy on others.
I will dress the way I like
And eat the things I enjoy.
We will share the burdens,
We will share the joys.
I will walk beside you.
I will not walk behind you.
We can be partners.
You do not own me.