tough old bird

a term referring to
usually a strong older women
who is sometimes overly abrasive and aggressive

I know a few

one comes to mind- my greatgrandmother on my dads side
widow twice- and both while relatively young
leaving her and her 10 children to run a farm
during the depression
while wild Indians(forgive the term)
would beg for food out the back door
and she would throw them scraps in the winter
when kittens and puppies were drowned to death
to spare them starvation
when literally a hunk of coal was given for christmas
when the death of the spouse meant relief from childbirth and physical abuse

these realities
explain
how
one becomes a tough old bird
and how well, my grandma too became a tough old bird
and so knowing apples and trees like to stay close together
I hope that if I am ever tough
it is only for good
and well balanced
with a large dose of mercy and sweet