Momma, You Were Wrong
by Linda Calahan

I put that excess baggage, Carried from girlhood into womanhood,

On a fast train out Of town, Last week.

After I discovered why All those guys, And those fresh faced young men Didn't want only sex from me. Why I made them want only sex from me. You said that's what they wanted.

Momma, why'd you fill my head With such nonsense? Momma why didn't you tell me I was pretty and gentle and kind. All those men saw it, Momma. All those baby faced boys. They saw my spirit and my soul,

But you, You said BEWARE! Men only want one thing I thought that was all I had To offer. MOMMA, you were wrong. 

Background Information

Have your parents given you information that you thought was true, but have since found it to be wrong? Parents sometimes tell their children things that may be untrue, to protect them from what the parent sees as dangerous. Talk about whether or not that is helpful for the child and what you might do instead.

Questions

1. What is excess baggage?

2. Why did she think all the guys wanted sex from her?

3. Why would her mother tell her this?

4. Do you think the woman loves her mother? Why or why not?

5. What's another word for kind?

6. What does a baby faced boy look like?

7. Do you think people have souls? Why?

8. What is the one thing the mother thinks men want?

9. Do you think men only want one thing?