Arlene Weiner: Advice to a Daughter

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A man is like the United States.

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He is stronger than you

but less flexible.

He is impatient.

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He expects you to smile.

He forgets easily.

He is sensitive to insult.

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Even when he is helpful

and well intentioned

he may be dangerous.

—

[Author’s note: I realized after I wrote Advice to a Daughter that it uses a similar device to an African poem I read years ago,” A baby is a European.” I looked for it on the web. I found a couple of sources that said it was traditional Ewe and one passage in a book that may attribute it to a poet named Kafu Hoh. I always took “European” to mean “white person” [in Africa] even if settled.

A baby is a European he does not eat our food: he drinks from his own waterpot.
A baby is a European he does not speak our tongue: he is cross when the mother understands him not.
A baby is a European he cares little for others: ….]

Copyright 2015 Arlene Weiner