woman, measured

A poem about reclaiming our bodies and minds from the shrinking narratives imposed upon us. *TW: Body image*

Yoghurt bowl, silky smooth
Morning’s wake, sunrise gift 
Coffee–date, on the move
Take the stairs, not the lift
Walk to work, gym, to school
Step counter, wrist cuffed
Research: new weight loss tool
just say “No thanks, im stuffed”

Calories climb high
Say goodbye
To beach body slim chick loved

I crave:
yin-yoga, gut-health, clear-face
Bronze-skin, long-hair, big-eyes

How to be
It girl 
the girl 
   A girl? 
A woman. 

A woman
Wide hips, with dips, smart lips
French fries, queen-size, moonrise trips

A girl, their filtered gaze:
Thinner, hairless, no thoughts
Reduced, erased, silenced, implies:

They want 
  To shrink us so thin 
    We disappear altogether

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This poem explores the daily struggle against societal pressures that seek to diminish our bodies and minds. Have you ever felt like you were disappearing into societal expectations?