Anna Potter’s Womanifesto
“... I have really come to try to accept myself.”
When will you learn
that every body part is unique,
that every tendon
muscle
bone
ligament
has a job?
When will you learn
that your body is a machine,
the finest pieces of machinery you could ever wish
to own?
When will you learn
that you don’t have to look like
her;
that you don’t have to fit:
a size 4
a mold
society’s expectations?
When will you learn
that you have hips
that your breasts are pointy
that you bleed
for your children?
When will you learn
to bless yourself
instead of cursing yourself
to cook yourself gourmet meals
instead of selling yourself to McDonald’s
to love yourself....
to love?
When will you learn
that being too short
too tall
too fat
too skinny
too pale
too dark
too quiet
too loud
too brainy
too dumb
too outspoken
too shy
do not exist,
that there is no too,
that there is only you
comparing yourself to
her?
When will you learn
to love your wrinkles
your freckles
your hair
your eyes
your teeth
your stomach
your thighs,
and when will you learn
that each wrinkle
freckle
physical characteristic
has a story to tell?
When will you learn
that television
magazines
computers
people--
some men,
some women--
are stifling you?
When will you learn
to open
to open
to open
your heart?
What you need to learn
is how to
unlearn
yourself.
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