Whole

the proverbial pecking order

like the birds from finding nemo

I stand on the chopping block

As society chipped

Mine! Mine! Mine!

Taking handful

I am left with holes

With the discarded left overs

The unwanted clunks of flesh

That they deem inappropriate for audiences every where

To them I am mass of parts

An a*s

Tits

Face

And

Thighs

Which they tighten, tone, and smooth

Cutting out the tough to achieve the optima contour

From cheeks that they have

Chemically peeled to burn the dots and character

Handed down from centuries of ancestries

Taking their pieces, their fleshy fistfuls they rebuild

Leaving out the wiggly bits

The extras

The excess of me

The essence of me

It wasn’t just fat they tossed aside

It was a soul

But after all who needs that

When you beast are on point

When your skin is smooth

When you thighs gap

They can always Photoshop that sparkle back

Light up your eyes with the click of a button

Box you up when not needed

Unveil you when they do

Sweeping the hiding cloth

On a rotating platform

You smile

As they

Remind you what your worth is

What your reason is

Why you exist

A mere distraction

A reason to fight and kill

Something to claim

A light at the end of their tunnel

A prize to strive for

At least for now while your skin is taunt

While winkle don’t devalue the merchandise.

Your worth is tied up in lack of years

Lack of use

Lack of life

Your inexperience shines with youthful glow

And the weathered hands of society lustful stokes

Leave finger prints that collect till you are considered too old

Till a new model is released

And you wordless and alone

Are a huddled mass of glossy pages with a sticky residue not one likes to talk about

 

 

Could I suggest an alternative narration?

You tell those fowls

That you are a masterpiece not meant to be taken apart

And resembled to suit their prevented and sadistic pallet

But viewed as a whole

Balling up your hands

You match them 

Fist for fistful

Using your mouth before they sew it shut

you shout

MINE! MINE! MINE!

And fight to keep yourself whole. 

Reviews

[Urja Gokani]

amazingly written keep it up !!

[Echoes of Eros]

There are flames you release through your essence, your identity, calling out into the universe to see the wholeness of you, the completeness of you. How beautifully passionate and profound. May the world one day see through these eyes. xo

[Isabel]

Your poem spoke some very hard truths.
"...you are a masterpiece not mean to be taken apart". That is definitely something to always keep in mind.
Great work Crystal!

[Julia Ledo]

I am so here for that last stanza. All too easily we let things slide in the media, we've known about the photoshopping and editing for years and yet its only become a hot button issue lately. I am so here for some body positivity and ownership

[AaronFreitas]

I like this write. Lots of honesty and the way people find parts of you they like when you want and need someone to love the whole you. Great write :)

[dan]

A beguiling commentary on the faux importance of body image and the perfection thereof. So many of us are caught in that web of dissatisfaction with self, mirrors scream when forced to reflect one's (badly distorted) image in the light of day. TV commercials scream "use this product, you are not yet GOOD ENOUGH!" For few of us end up stuck between the glossy pages, residue of worthless self-pleasuring...magazines are not made for us, the plain and misshapen. We can only be proud of who we are and how we appear to ourselves, not fodder for the dreams of others. Sensational piece, Crystal! take care...dan

[Emily]

Great poem!
I love the wording!
Keep it up!!

[terry smith]

only remove the parts of you that "you" do not like...F..them...from Rubens paintings until now...who knows what tomorrows flavor will be...be the best you ...and be happy...nicely spoken piece of mind :)