This unruly body
shows the scars of invisibility
stores retaliations too dangerous to speak
attempts to numb instead of feel
to translate dismissal into love
when feeling was too dangerous
and I was in the way
This unruly body
elicits strong feelings
a thing to be contended with
the disgust with the pity mask
the discomfort with the worry mask
the problem and the problem
too much seen-ness
to be less is to be better
doctor’s orders
This unruly body
strength and resilience
shield, sword and hearth
my home and my shelter
a reminder of what I survive
contains all of this
This unruly body
warm and engulfing
strong, sturdy, solid, sexy
source of comfort and pleasure
a smile, a squeeze, a moan
loved and seen
and seen and seen and seen
