MY BODY IS NOT YOUR POLITICS
“Embodiment (detail),” image by Lisa Naas
… each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.
—Mary Oliver
…at times
the blood sings all night long
and nobody sleeps, nobody dares.
—Mercedes Lawry
This is the time when I am all prayers and incantations,
and I’d do anything to break
the fortress of my skin.
—Beverly Lafontaine
Embodiment (detail) by Lisa Naas
“Embodiment (detail)” by Lisa Naas “Embodiment (detail),” image by...
At the Yoga Shanti Class for Cancer Survivors by Cheryl Buchanan
“At the Yoga Shanti Class for Cancer Survivors” by Cheryl Buchanan...
Crone Hands by Molly Howes
“Crone Hands” by Molly Howes Her large hands bear bony...
The Pink Hairbrush by S.J. Eaves
“The Pink Hairbrush” by S.J. Eaves Wear your hair long and...
When They Ask About My Face by Nancy Carol Moody
“When They Ask About My Face” by Nancy Carol Moody I will say...
The Tattoo I Did Not Get by Felicia Mitchell
“The Tattoo I Did Not Get” by Felicia Mitchell Bloodroot sends...
After the Cut by Mai-Lon Gittelsohn
“After the Cut” by Mai-Lon Gittelsohn I take a shower...
Daughter, They’ll Use Even Your Own Gaze to Wound You by Beth Ann Fennelly
“Daughter, They’ll Use Even Your Own Gaze to Wound You” by Beth Ann...
When You’ve Been Sick for a Time by Susan Austin
“When You’ve Been Sick for a Time” by Susan Austin The surgeon...
Stef’s Request By Abigail Licad
“Stef’s Request” by Abigail Licad The night before the surgery...
Lupus Outwits Me, Declares Martial Law by Susan Eisenberg
“Lupus Outwits Me, Declares Martial Law” by Susan Eisenberg ...
Sooner or Later the Body Betrays Us by Beverly Lafontaine
“Sooner or Later the Body Betrays Us” by Beverly Lafontaine ...
Bet You Thought You Saw the Last of Me by Rachel Durs
“Bet You Thought You Saw the Last of Me” by Rachel Durs I used...
How Big the Sky by Anna Hundert
“How Big the Sky” by Anna Hundert 1. he steals my darkest...
The Distance Between by Maureen McQuerry
“The Distance Between” by Maureen McQuerry You tell me to lean...
Survivor’s Guide to Sex by Elizabeth Hoover
“Survivor’s Guide to Sex” by Elizabeth Hoover Two days before...
What Is the Medicine for Rape by Trina Porte
“What Is the Medicine for Rape” by Trina Porte last week at...
Comfort Woman by Tanya Ko-Hong
“Comfort Woman” by Tanya Ko-Hong On August 14, 1991, in Seoul,...
The Untenable by Cynthia Reeser
“The Untenable” by Cynthia Reeser A rusted gash in a frigate’s...
What We Call Love Is Seldom What We Fall Into by Sandy Gillespie
“What We Call Love Is Seldom What We Fall Into” by Sandy Gillespie...
What Sets Her Apart, Part II By Tania Pryputniewicz
“What Sets Her Apart, Part II” by Tania Pryputniewicz ...
What Sets Her Apart, Asks Jayne, After Reading Another Guinevere Poem For Me In Massachusetts by Tania Pryputniewicz
“What Sets Her Apart, Asks Jayne, After Reading Another Guinevere Poem For...
Won’t You Be My Valentine by Elizabeth Hoover
“Won’t You Be My Valentine” by Elizabeth Hoover By now you are...
My Brother by Katharyn Howd Machan
“My Brother” by Katharyn Howd Machan My brother lives in a box...
Tijuana by Holly Norton
“Tijuana” by Holly Norton Southern California unwinds like a...
There Is More Light Every Day (A Song for Uneven Fingernails) by Anna Hundert
“There Is More Light Every Day (A Song for Uneven Fingernails)” by...
How To Love Your Body by Kelly Cressio-Moeller
“How To Love Your Body” by Kelly Cressio-Moeller 1. Polish a...
The Photographer’s Model by Jeannette Miller
“The Photographer’s Model” by Jeannette Miller The hard, round...
My Body Is Not Your Politics by Hannah Bonner
“My Body Is Not Your Politics” by Hannah Bonner My body is not...
A Number of Blue Women by Anita M. Barnard
“A Number of Blue Women” by Anita M. Barnard I They cannot...
Why My Body by Antonia Clark
“Why My Body” by Antonia Clark Because I’ve made it a...