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.