My Body - mixed messages we receive

The shell that holds my soul

Once upon a time

a little girl was

twirling in the breeze

and laughing with ease

Then one day

she felt fat and dumb

“Baby fat” they said.

those words got into her head

Days went by

“All arms and legs!” they cried.

“She’s so skinny,

but look she can scale a tree

she’s a natural athlete!”

She only wanted to play

it hurt when they would say

“Why do you dress that way?”

She pretended she didn’t care

until one day she became aware

She grew, but still so thin

the beauty within

blossomed outside

she would no longer hide

Was she finally accepted? Was she seen?

Would they stop being mean?

Male gaze

put her in a haze

Cat calls

getting hit on at malls

“Look at you dressing that way!”

Was all they could say

Time traveled on

her body created

her body loved

her body changed

she was so tired

was she still desired?

She grew even older

and thought it was over

then she became bolder

It was time to let go of the ideal

and embrace what was real

She kept hitting walls

and pulled herself up after each fall

It was time to try another race

this time at her own pace

She now celebrates her body that is strong

This is not the end of her song.

My latest hobby. Arthritis and tendonitis have made it a challenge.