Gertrude

Her name is Gertrude

it’s an old family name

given to her by her mom

to honor their family tree

grandma was Gertrude

as was her great, great grandma

there is a long line of Gertrudes

The name carries meaning

“strength of a spear”

but it doesn’t hold true

at least not for Gertrude

the present one is not strong

she looks into the mirror

and sees self-doubt and fear

Stories say great, great grandma

she was as strong as an ox

and you did not want to cross her

if you dared, you would pay

no one ever messed with her

but somehow over the years

the strength was somehow lost

Today Gertrude struggles

not knowing which way to go

there is a lost look in her eyes

a confusion that consumes her

questions that hold her down

but inside one most wonder

“Is there a spear ready to fly?”

She’s bought into the lies

“You’re too much of this”

“You’re too little of that”

“You need to be more of this”

“You need to be less of that”

the lies mount, casting a

fog over her mirror

If only she could see

herself in that mirror

strengthen by the past

setting her eyes on greatness

though now she can’t see it

it is hidden, but not that

far from her sight

There is a young lady

hidden behind the fog

fighting to break free

searching for strength

that is there but not there

covered in layers of lies

needing to be wiped away

Could she see herself,

the real Gertrude, through

that fog covered mirror

grasp her hands on the spear,

wipe away the doubt and fear

and with eyes of hope see the

strong warrior ready to fly