curled tight every night-
behind cereal boxes,
shoved deep in the closet-
on top of shelves,
just beyond my books-
They are always noisy,
growling loud as
hungry pangs in my stomach,
angrily stomping the floor,
as if wretched with waiting-
slow burning of calories-
Refusing to melt away,
they chatter about tight
jeans & hot bikini pieces.
One day, I look hard
in the mirror: double chin, big arms, fat legs-
a girl, who can't face her monsters-
Image from Tumblr - Whydoes-Nobody-Understand
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub: Poetics - Monsters - Hosted by Brian Miller - I came across this image in Tumblr and it saddened me to read the blog of a young woman who hates herself and her body.
This is very sad, Grace. I hate to see someone hating oneself, but then again there is a way to lose weight gradually for health sake if one needs to.
ReplyDeleteI agree Mary ~ I think it is more to pressure & image of what a "perfect figure" should be ~ Thank you ~
Deleteoh dang...ugh...self perception...and eating issues....oy...i am in that for sure in the school system right now...especially with summer coming and something that haunts for the rest of the life if you dont get a handle on it...great approach to this prompt grace....
ReplyDeleteThank you Brian ~ I agree on the challenges of eating & nutrition vis-a-vis self perception ~
Deleteoh heck... it's tough and for many women those monsters are sad reality...and most of them are not really overweight it's just a hunting after the images magazines and tv sell us as the norm
ReplyDeleteI agree on all points Claudia ~ Sad to see but its a grim reality ~
DeleteYeah self depiction can sure be hard, as others knock you down but you are your own worst enemy too. And as far as food goes, don't even get me started haha
ReplyDeleteI agree on being your own worst enemy ~
DeleteGood to see you Pat ~
Maybe if we didn't constantly see altered advertising of people at unhealthy weights featured, see edited pictures and hear all that criticism, we would feel better about ourselves. There is more to beauty then body image.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you ~ Thanks for your visit ~
DeleteNiceee. Never wouldve looked at it like that before.. I guess monsters can be our insecurities
ReplyDeleteYes, they can be ~ Thanks Addie ~
DeleteGrace, is heartbreaking and so well written. The imagery comparing hunger noises to monster noises is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThank you Heidi ~
DeleteI'm sure this is not you. But for anybody, health surely is the most important thing.
ReplyDeleteNot me Aprille ~ Thank you ~
Deletealmost all of us have those monsters and fight with them all our lives. The only weapon against them is the love of others towards us.
ReplyDeleteI agree on that weapon ~ Thanks Dezzy ~
Deleteheh-heh ... now that's the sort of monster that whispers in my ear all the time ...
ReplyDeleteThank you Polly ~
Deleteoh, i know these too well... they've been with me for many years, but i finally managed to slam the door in their faces.they don't have the right to be there.
ReplyDeletegreat approach, amazing write!
Good for you ~ Thanks for the visit ~
DeleteThis a great poem on the monster that body image can be for some people. Young children grow out of the monster under the bed, only to reach their teenage years and fret about the monster in the mirror.
ReplyDeleteThat monster in the mirror ~ How sad that some of us can't look past this stage ~ Thank you for your lovely words and visit ~
DeleteThe monster is the self-hatred. You wrote this topic so well.
ReplyDeleteI understand this one so well, I have had issues with these monsters myself and it took awhile to tame them. Your words describe the situation beautifully. It's so sad that this battle has become such a monster for so many.
ReplyDeleteLove this, Grace. Interesting concept... a love/hate relationship, huh? I like the growl of hunger.
ReplyDeleteMonsters of all kinds in the world, not just the fantasy kind. Nicely written.
ReplyDeleteMost people are of average intelligence and thus have average vision. Higher intelligence has different eyes. Anyone who writes with heart like you do is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis is so powerful, Grace. Powerful and sad.
ReplyDeleteThis is very sad and as has been said powerful...and silly as it is I know these monsters...I fight them constantly and I think mostly I win but gosh I have to be on my guard. Wonderful poem!
ReplyDeleteOh, Grace...this is, by far, the worst monster I have met today. The one that won't let you see beauty past some other standard.
ReplyDeleteA clever spin on the topic - I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteHa! i think many women will relate to this!
ReplyDeleteThat's a heavy duty monster...sad indeed.
ReplyDeleteGrace, 1st time reader on this site - thank you. How many of us or the younger generation are obsessed by body image due to media. Bring back the plus size models to show that one can indeed be happy about their appearance without having to struggle for the so called perfection.
ReplyDeleteMirrors are there to be smashed into thousands of pieces - Excellent poem and very thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteVery sad -- this self-hatred. On another note, I love your banner photo. THAT makes me happy. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis goes beyond moving. It is shattering, a fabulously powerful write - though I doubt you'll find that much consolation. Blessings for the future.
ReplyDeleteSad reality for so many..nicely done, Grace. Happy weekend to you. :)
ReplyDeleteChange the expectation not the body as long as the body os mobile and healthy. have another cigarette and a beer says I!
ReplyDeleteThat is one monster that is hard to out run..interesting write..
ReplyDeleteNormally those monsters are more dangerous to fight than to ignore. Well thought.
ReplyDeleteOh, Grace, good job. This is one monster that can haunt everyone to some extent, given the fact that we all eat or can have unrealistic expectations of how we view ourselves.
ReplyDeletehumor and poetry i like the combination.it's the monster society puts in the mind of women - size and image.
ReplyDeleteWow~super creative use of the monster prompt. Sadly, advertising and media create most of the monsters that we can't ever live up to...Great writing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and very relevant. Great job. :-)
ReplyDeleteEveryone is beautiful regardless of size. It is so sad that society - basically Hollywood and the fashion industry - put up a very unrealistic and unhealthy ideal of beauty.
One of the best times of my life was when I finally accepted my body for what it is and what it will be.
There certainly are some very real monsters out there even if we can't see them.
ReplyDelete