Inside The Box
Dear Whoever Makes The Rules,
They told her she was gorgeous
But those shoulders!
Put them away!
It’s distracting
Ehemm
My shoulders?
Yes yes, your shoulders,
Cover them
Her jeans,
They’re ripped,
At the knee,
You know?
But it’s against the dress code,
So cover them,
Cover them with duct tape,
Change into sweatpants,
Oh but wait!
Sweatpants aren’t encouraged
It might look trashy,
Like we don’t care,
About our education, that is,
As though our clothes determine the
Quality of our education
So she wears a dress,
The new one,
The one she got even though,
She couldn’t really afford it
And she strides into school
But STOP
That dress is too short
Halfway down your thigh
They say,
As long as it is longer than your fingertips,
They say,
Do you have anything else to wear?
They say,
It might encourage the boys,
They say
No bellies, breasts, buttocks, or backs
They say
No they say
NO NO NO
No holes or rips
Or unsanitary clothes
They say
That
Clothes should
“Fit appropriately”
Not too tight
Or too loose
God forbid
The girl with
Body image issues
Wants to wear a
Baggy shirt
Body Image.
What a concept.
If only we knew to
Embrace our bodies
Instead of shaming them
If only
She could find shorts
At the store
That didn’t
Put her butt on display
If only
She knew it was
Okay
To be comfortable
In her own skin,
They say
Be unique
Just Within
OUR parameters
They say
Be yourself
But only when
It’s convenient
For them
They say
Be who you are
Just stay
INSIDE THE BOX