If only.

This poem ought to be an anthem for all girls and women caught up in the mythical romantic conditioning around needing to find a partner, (generally, read: man); needing to have children; needing to be whatever that partner wants her to be; and most of all the sad and old tradition, emanating from biblical notions of male fear of sex and mythical female 'sin' and 'insatiable lust with which to corrupt men' which caused them to put females on an artificial and effectively unachievable pedestal of 'perfection'. Far from being respect or appreciation of women for themselves it has meant years of false idolatry that has caused inestimable hurt, disappointment, hardship, abuse and worse.

As you imply, words or at least the concepts that they carry are so often deceptive or even empty, in their application.

Girls and women have given so much to my life but, to my shame and regret, I admit that for much of it I had ingested that false romantic ideal of women, and both suffered and caused others I had worshipped, to suffer - perhaps even more than I.

I am still racked with guilt when considering my past relationships, not for and intentional or malicious physical or mental abuse but for having imbibed that most harmful of concepts so readily and then eventually realising the harm it had produced.

I now shudder and almost burst with anger at reality television shows such as 'Married at First Sight' or 'The Bachelor' or 'Farmer wants a wife' and etc. -- The fundamental ethos of these shows just perpetuates the myth and far from celebrating the true beauty and worth of women, actually demeans them and thus presents an obnoxious model for girls and young women of the future.

I am now probably too old to ever see it but if I were able to make it happen, I would instantly bring about an altered understanding of what relationships ought to be and your poem would define it.

Thank you.

Take care. Stay safe. ☮️