“WOMAN” by Nikki Giovanni

she wanted to be a blade of grass amid the fields

but he wouldn’t agree to be the dandelion

she wanted to be a robin singing through the leaves
but he refused to be
her tree

she spun herself into a web and looking for a place to rest
turned to him
but he stood straight
declining to be her corner

she tried to be a book but he wouldn’t read

she turned herself into a bulb but he wouldn’t let her grow

she decided to become a woman
and though he still refused
to be a man
she decided it was all right