Born an independent mind
She knew right and wrong from an early age.
Norma said not yes quickly,
for she pondered issues before responding.
Her Mum was unable to make her do things
she was uncomfortable with or would regret later.
At times, she read people’s minds before they spoke
and when they did, she knew the right thing to say.
She was considered obstinate
and sometimes a coward,
but that was not so.
Both were defense mechanisms for what she disliked.
Children were to be seen and not heard,
but not Norma, the headstrong.
Orders were in order if they made sense
Otherwise they weren’t for her.
When paraphernalia was laid out for all
to participate in the dark life of wild beliefs,
Norma was nowhere with the rest.
She stood aloof and said “Count me out”.
She hid somewhere and peeped at the stupidity
as they drank concoctions, got cut and
rubbed with stuff by the queer looking old
men or women invited to handle mysteries.
Norma rejected moves they wanted made
or carry gadgets they dished out for protection.
She objected to treatment by them when sick
for she wasn’t induct-able into that world.
Norma walked out and away forever
for she couldn't adopt her Mum’s ways
that drained the family and yielded nothing,
yet her Mum couldn't see her own foolishness.