Superwoman

its a startling discovery
and unsettling too
once you don the superwoman mantle
it can't be taken off you
coping is your strength, you are told
so just do it
stop complaining, for God's sake
and get on with it
haven't you worn the millstone
all these years
uncomplainingly,
wipe away the tears and
drop the air of tragedy
oh! growing older, are you
too bad women lose so fast the resilience of youth!
listen, do what you have to
get the tests done
run through the consultations
swallow the pills
walk, run, join the gym
do what you must
but get back to work, ok
the world can't keep waiting!
you chose that mantle, didn't you
you grabbed it, in fact
you live and die with it, get that!