Self-confessed

I undressed myself 

the time had come

to stand in front of the mirror

and confess it all - 

The late bloomer

I held my breasts 

'I used to think there wasn't enough of you!' 

I smiled

 swirled my hands up into the air

swivelled up on to my toes and

twisted my hips towards the glass

... 'you'

eyebrows raised,

you know who I'm talking to

'you always got all the attention...

from all the wrong people 

sometimes I hated you for that'.

I dived my arms to the floor and my hips followed

  legs crossed,

I rested my chin on my knees

and smiled into my eyes 

the eyes

of my mother

of my grandmothers

of all mothers before me ...

thank you.

I turned my cheek to the scarring on one side

'I didn't recognise myself for some time,

because to you. 

I blamed you for ruining my graduation'

the first generation of women in my family

to have one.

I sat back, looked down to the 'chunky' thighs,

as they've been known since I was a baby.

'I never could get rid of you!' I laughed. 

'No matter how hard I tried...'

but I wouldn't want to, now.

I'll keep all my lumps and bumps,

and scars.

The ones that got me through school, 

graduation

funerals

weddings

tears

travels

and laughter.

The ones of wisdom shared from all women's bodies before me

and the wisdom of the men in my life,

who always told me

not to listen to those nasty words

the ones they say

'sticks and stones may break my bones

but words will never harm me'

but they never knew

of the words

I'd tell myself

and now, I've said it all.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Quite a good piece...love the layout of this. It has me on the floor with my legs crossed...
I relate to this because I have always been really self-conscious about my looks.
Why would a girl want to go out with me? And even deep into a relationship...someone would say "I love you" and my response would be "why?"
I didn't go to the extend of putting covers over the mirrors...but never
liked how I looked...
I guess we all feel there is some certain visage we have to live up to...but damn it, no.
We need to just be ourselves...and not only give ourselves a break, but love ourselves as well.
You got me going with this one, Laura,
j.

[Laura Kate]

I can definitely relate to you here, Jacob. I think most people would change something about themselves, if they could, but we are all unique for a reason. People can be cruel though, as can the media ... Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. Laura.

[h d e rushin]

we finally realize that we wont ever be the model in Cosmo looking elsewhere; in our body suit and knee length skirt. in fact, we look closer to all the others at Walmart in our proprietary spandex and our topic, lettered sweatshirts... body image is the cruel, dancing ghost that thumbs itself through the chapters of our metamorphosis /lol

There is no cure and no mythology for the poem you've wrote so beautifully.....dana

[barleygirl]

Being at the cafe for 6 years, I've read at least a million poems about self-esteem & this is the only one I've ever really LOVED! Sometimes it feels to me like poems bemoaning body image are too far one way or too far the other, but like Goldilocks, I finally found the perfect bowl of porridge right here. This is the exact battle most of us have waged, shown in a fresh way with unique wording, totally relatable, showing the ups and the downs. This is the total package of what it's like to nurture/fight one's self image (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Coyote Poetry]

The greatest wisdom learn. To like ourselves. I loved the poem and the honest thoughts dear LouBelle. I believe our scars, womanly curves. Artwork. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Just Kim]

This is an emotional read here, nicely presented

[Laura Kate]

Thank you for reading, Just Kim, and for sharing your thoughts.