Eshet Chayil - A Woman of Valor (for the 21st century)

She doesn't feel brave,

except sometimes, when she does.

She feels the weight of rubies

and gold twist on her fingers;

she prefers a crown of flowers

in her hair to cold metal

and the straight-edged lines

of rocks.

She doesn't feel brave,

except when she does

in her heart -

   the heart of a wife

   and daughter

   mother, perhaps

   Or not - childless,

      by choice or

      unseen circumstance.

Weaver of tales, spinner of

fine linen that snags

sometimes, and she smooths it

with supple fingers -

slim fingers -

crooked and thick-with-age fingers.

She pulls the threads

that pulls the cloth. 
There is beauty in its folds.

She doesn't feel brave,

but she laughs,

and it sounds like water

and light; and she knows goodness

and sometimes pain, 

and the law of kindness

is on her tongue.

She doesn't feel strong,

but she rises when she falls,

because there are bills to pay

and dinner to fix

and papers to grade

and sometimes write.

There are knees to bandage

and meetings to endure

and the clock just keeps ticking.

And there are friends to love,

and family to love,

and self to love -

yes: self to love,

sometimes.

She rises, exhausted.

She rises, in joy.

She rises, trembling.

fearless.

bruised,

alone,

lonely.

She rises.

She knows nothing of valor

or the value of rubies.

She rises, and does not feel strong,

but sometimes she knows blessings

and a stumbling bit of grace.

Based on Proverbs 31:10-31, which is
also known as "Eshet Chayil" - A Woman of Valor