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

 

This poem is about: 
Me
My community

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