Rest
I am resting,
on behalf of the younger version of me,
who would never rest
unless she had “earned” it.
I’m resting,
on behalf of my mother, my grandmother,
and my great grandmother,
and all the women before me,
who did not know rest.
I’m resting,
on behalf of women
who never allowed themselves rest,
or who never had the luxury
of living a life well rested.
I’m resting,
so that my daughter,
and my daughters daughters
may know what it’s like to be truly rested,
I’m resting,
so she may know
deep in her bones
she is allowed rest
just because she’s tired.