Your midriff sags toward your knees;
your breast lie down in air,
their nipples as uninvolved
as warm starfish.
You stand in your elastic case,
still not giving up the new-born
and the old-born cycle.
Moving, you roll down the garment,
down that pink snapper and hoarder,
as your belly, soft as pudding,
slops into the empty space;
down, over the surgeon's careful mark,
down over hips, those head cushions
and mouth cushions,
slow motion like a rolling pin,
over crisp hairs, that amazing field
that hides your genius from your patron;
over thighs, thick as young pigs,
over knees like saucers,
over calves, polished as leather,
down toward the feet.
You pause for a moment,
tying your ankles into knots.
Now you rise,
a city from the sea,
born long before Alexandria was,
straighway from God you have come
into your redeeming skin.
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Comments
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sarcastic, sardonic...the bitter edge comes through, so much in a life can cause despondence, sadness..so many blessings become expectations, then disappointments...we give up our wishes and goals for the impatience of demands, we could simply celebrate ourselves, see ourselves like the art and legends; rising from the sea in glory...PK
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From guest lakhes1s (contact)
hmmmm, im a male studying it (for an exam!!!) and i reckon it criticizes society's need for women to be sexualized and perfect; but hey, everyone is entitled to their opinion -
So graphic and funny. Hilarious actually! Sexton was quite aware of the whole body image thing. At least, that's how I read it. What a very talented poet she was.
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Loved this poem...
bookmarking it so much hidden depth and views of women...
ahhh great I loved it -
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