Women
by May Swenson

Women should be pedestals
moving pedestals
moving to the motions of men

Or they should be little horses
those wooden sweet oldfashioned painted rocking horses
the gladdest things in the toyroom

The pegs of their ears
so familiar and dear
to the trusting fists

To be chafed feelingly
and then unfeelingly

To be joyfully ridden
rockingly ridden
until the restored egos dismount
and their legs stride away

Immobile
sweetlipped
sturdy and smiling
women should always be waiting
willing to be set in motion

Women should be pedestals
to men