Collar

*Ode to Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Mountains rest on petite shoulders
Made sinewy by the weight,
Made agile by the struggle
of holding truth and judgement
To the test,
Strength in wielding gavel,
Dissent is not a dirty word,
for the aged that has heard and seen
And ruled on far more challenges,
Keeping Lady liberty in shape
A collar replaces a hero’s cape
Ward malignancies at Bay,
Teeth might gnash
And bones might break
But a tall shadow
Does a small but fierce figure make

Ask.

Don’t be afraid
To ask outright
for what you need,

It is not a burden,
But to hold it in,
And go without,
Because you feared
Judgement,
When you were most in need.

All you can do is ask,
There is no shame
In asking
For
Help.