What kind of oppression is this
for women to hate their own bodies into submission?
To tuck, flatten, cut, shape, build, color,
paint, starve, carve, feed, hide, cover, sculpt
and bind
such unique beauty and presence
to conform to something else?
For someone else?
Many are even convinced they do it
for themselves.
What, and whom, does it serve?
How long have we lied to,
hated, pushed away, contrived
and disappeared ourselves?
It goes beyond gender.
(Choose any system and look at how
we’ve turned it against ourselves.)
Ever noticed a peacock, tiger, or,
hell, a goat
do the same?
How ridiculous.
And cruel.
To what god have we bowed
when discarding the body we have been given,
one never to be created twice–not ever to be seen again–
to be wanted? appreciated? included?
Ohhhh let’s gather another tribe instead,
shake ourselves loose from those heavy chains
clamped on our wrists so long ago
we couldn’t possibly remember.