Today’s piece is more upbeat, examining the moves that women have made, the progress of women from submissive help mates to assertive colleagues. Women have progressed through the efforts of our grandmothers, our mothers, and ourselves. It has been a lot of work to get us to this place, and it will be a lot of work to hold on to what we’ve gained; even more is needed to get further. So tonight, a poem about the tools women use.

TOOLS FOR WOMEN

 Blender. Toaster. Range.
Dishes. Knives. Forks.
Bowls. Mixer. Oven. Spoon.
Pie plate. Cookie sheet.
Bread Machine. Microwave.

 Tools for women, powerful and
Shiny with chrome or enamel.
Tools for women to create,
To please, to nurture.

 Screwdriver. Drill. Saw.
Hammer. Nails. Router.
Wrench. Ratchet. Clamp.
Welder. Jigsaw. Hatchet.
Ax. Plane. Vise. Paint brush.

 Tools for women, powerful and
Shiny with chrome or steel.
Tools for women to create,
To enjoy, to innovate.

 Briefcase. Calculator. Pen.
Tablet. Phone. Computer.
Slide rule. Paper clip.
Hardware. Software.
Portfolio. PowerPoint. Spreadsheet.

 Tools for women, powerful and
Shiny with chrome, enamel, or steel.
Tools for women to create,
To discover, to supervise.

 Tools for women.
Tools to help women be
Everything they ever wanted to be.
Tools for women have increased
As women have moved from kitchen
To shop to boardroom.
Nothing can stop us now.