
Sharon Lopez Mooney
Poet & Interfaith Chaplain

Middle Woman
i am a middle womon
life parades past me hoping
but i do not choose
my eyes are sharp
and i never tire of looking
the world is waiting
to hear me declare my name
there have been sounds
but they take no shape
make no music
so I wear ties and shirts
and sit with my legs spread
my mouth is slightly open
i am ready
i am a middle womon
the chords of my voice have stretched
dissonant and sweet
and will no longer be quieted
i have been practicing these years
and can throw my voice across hills of bent trees
it can go farther than i ever imagined
i have been built with those hard woods
weight of my living
bears down against the grain
resting on knots that cause weakness
but add color and beauty
fierce winds bend and move me
flexing
i am ready
i am a middle womon
half of me has been in the making
"the next half lies in the morning just before dawn
i will enjoy this new sculpting
i have more tools for the cutting now
a more steady hand
my stomach has the strength
when i swallow evil i can call it back up
there is nothing i have to keep down
i will taste everything
my belly will bear the load
these muscles are hard
i am ready
Sharon Mooney, “Middle Womon”, in Women and Aging, an anthology by women, ed. Alexander, Jo, [et al], 1986, CALYX Inc, Corvallis OR, p.106.