pelf-ism is contagious

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE:
a set of screwdrivers,
a cordless drill, and
a black lace bra.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE:
one friend who always
makes her laugh, and
one who lets her cry.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE:
a good piece of furniture
not previously owned by
anyone else in her family.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE:
a feeling of control over
her destiny.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
how to fall in love
without losing herself.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover, and
confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
when to try harder, and
when to walk away.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
that she can’t change
the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or
the nature of her parents.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
that her childhood may not have been perfect,
but, it’s over.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
what she would and wouldn’t
do for love, or more.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
how to live alone,
even if she doesn’t like it.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
whom she can trust,
whom she can’t,
and why she shouldn’t
take it personally.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
where to go,
be it to her best friend’s kitchen table,
or a charming inn in the woods,
when her soul needs soothing.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:
what she can and can’t accomplish
in a day,
a month,
and a year.