The story of this poem: I posted this one a while back, and I’m reworking it for inclusion in a chapbook later this year. God, do I love making a list.
THINGS I'VE BEEN TOLD TO DO ONLY BY OTHER WOMEN, NEVER BY MEN Bear children each year, Crush my tits in push-up bras, Pierce my lamb-soft ears, Plant lavish gardens in fall, Shave off all my glorious pubes, Burn off my pit hair, Wax my leg fuzz that looks so cute, (No proof of puberty anywhere!) Rise early and crush it at the gym, Let Sephora steal all my money, Suck in my belly with a grin, Shimmy for the boys who aren’t funny, Hold in all my shameful tears, Appease the mother who keeps me trying, Date a man who brings me fear, Apologize for all my crying, Talk about my wordless feelings, Teeter on spinally-unkind stilettos, Build my brand from floor to ceiling, Ignore that I’m weary straight down to my toes, Spend my time on a skin care routine, Form an opinion on the Master Cleanse, Slip on the uniform of the team, Perfect the routine with its too-high kicks, Get in line, Settle for less, And only rest comfortably in the group After passing the test.
Thank you so much for reading my work.
See you next week.
