Awww Maryanne.....Listen girl, I often wonder, what defines a woman?? Her age? Her responisibilty? Her personality?....I dont think there should be an age put on a woman to make her one, because some people never grow up, and some people grow up too fast. You dont have to wait til your 18 to be a "woman" and you dont have to turn 18 and be a woman if you still want to be young and have fun....I think our choices define who we are and the choice is yours.....Its not scary I promise...To be an adult may suck, bills are never fun, but growing up is so completely fun, but then again so is staying young...so what I do....I consider myself a woman. I am confident, mature, responsible in all I do, trustworthy, yet, I will be the first on the dance floor anywhere I go, I'll freak out in a Barnes and Nobles over a Teacup pig Calendar, I'll put on a show with my air guitar at the Zoo...I'll always stay young and have fun because life is too short to let an age or the word "adult" or "woman" scare you...

Loved this write, I went through it too at 18, but I was more excited and got into more trouble than I should have....dont do that. Always do what right, always tell the truth, be responsible, but have fun in all you do.

Beautiful :)

I'm glad I read chelsey's post... I have never thought of an age defining a woman though..

Simone de Beauvoir said that "one is not born a woman, but becomes one" and your piece, Maryanne, portrays exactly what she referred to. Our culture expects women to behave in a certain way, defining what is feminine or not as if a human being could be codified by his/ her gender. Our insane society forgets that each of us is a unique being and due to that, our idiosyncrasies and different tendencies should be respected.
I know how difficult it might be for you to start a new phase in your life and the heavy burden of a label but my dearest one, face everything as a rite of passage: it is just a transition. Don't be afraid of anything. It is not hard to be a woman because it is a natural process in one's life. To be an adult is not a synonym for growing old because our souls/spirits are ageless. Time and age are two stupid concepts. So live your life to the fullest and get rid of the old paradigms: to be a woman is not a legacy, it is just a part of this game called life. Don't also think that being a woman means responsibility because responsibility is something we have throughout our lives. When you are a child, you have to take care of your toys. Then you are a teen and you have to be responsible for your room, homework and etc. As we grow old, responsibilities change but they have always been with us since the brginning.

I found an interesting article about being a woman and I want to share it with you:
"Ten good reasons being a woman is awesome:"

1.Women live longer.
2.Women have excellent communication skills.
3.Women don't have to wait as long to reach their sexual peak.
4.Women are better leaders
5.Women wrote the most successful book franchises of our time: Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, 50 Shades of Grey, etc.
6.Women own their feelings.
7.Women are more likely to survive critical accidents.
8.Women are more likely to have graduated college by age 22.
9.Car insurance is cheaper for women.
10.Women remember nicer things.

All in all I really liked your poem because it is relatable and candid. .I could see you penned your heart. Many girls who read your piece will see themselves in your lines and a good poem is the one that reads the reader. I also loved the images you crafted. Excellent work.
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