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Open Poetry #20
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- How Sad To Be A Woman -
| Open Poetry #20 |
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- How Sad To Be A Woman - |
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Honeybee Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372Ontario, CANADA 
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How Sad To Be A Woman Walk within my silence, taste the frustration and regret screaming on the tip of my tongue yet never spoken aloud. Look into my eyes, distort and you will see that I am confusion, one of many from a mass delusion, brainwashed to weep that there's no worth to embrace, simply because I am woman. Be thin, be curvy be beautiful, be healthy, be yourself, be sexy, accept your flaws, but, be perfect. And, so it goes that we all become the victims of society's conflicting signals. This is the day of visa cards that are maxxed out to buy the latest mask paint, spiked heels and rubber breasts. It matters not of age, race or time there's diet pills, fads and gimmick drinks to be had through the chaos of exercise 'til you drop. And, we go on as if routine looking ahead to an unattainable someday, slowly desecrating self-esteem. Even I wear a smile in all it's frailty knowing that I am their object, their experiment, their dissaproval and puppet. How sad, that I have the scissors yet not the will to cut the strings. How tragic that life has become a coveted dream of anorexia, that clothing should hang off skin with the same finesse as a wire hanger; such a loss that the real of me must flush down the toilet along with the food I shouldn't have eaten in fear that one pound gained will make them love me less. Yes, I will place my bikini in the 'cellulite' corner of my drawer and all my little red dresses shall hang their heads with shame in the 'lose ten pounds' section of the closet. For, it seems that beauty is an exclusive club to which we all apply for membership year after mundane year, although none of us actually expect to get in. So, I'm not gonna eat today, I'm not gonna eat tomorrow, a week from now...who knows? I'll be closer to supermodel so that he or maybe he or they will accept me, finally, for who I am, as only they want me to be. And one day, I will die with a wisdom that's come too late, wondering if the last rice cake was really worth it? How sad that even as I write those words, I don't believe a single thing I've said because I'm still trying to find myself amidst the dominoes of women falling into Hollywood's bin of 'never good enough.' By Melissa P. Monette |
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| © Copyright 2002 Melissa P. Long-Monette - All Rights Reserved | |||
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Melissa...this is a powerful render, beautifully illustrating inner pain. Dynamic... |
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Rick Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 2903Victoria, Australia |
Dear Melissa, this was a sad piece, the belief that society won’t accept us for who we are in itself is sad, please try to be more at one with yourself, you must ask the tough questions and answer them all truthfully to yourself, Are you happy, healthy and truly loved; if not you should make changes, as many in the same situation should, I am sure the person in your true body will be much happier than the pretentious one that smiles with inner ill feeling. Be yourself and happy, good luck. I enjoyed the read, good writing. Sincerely Rick |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
Melissa, I wish you cold know how much this means to me. I have struggled with it for so many years. It is sad to see it still happening to young women. You would think we could have passed from this level of thining. But we can't. Because we are judged, always by others,and aways by ourselves. Its hard. Wait till you throw aging into it. Yuck! Love ya, poetess. Sandra |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Melissa, A very clever man once said the secret to all is moderation and I add except in love.  |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Powerful write Melissa.. Unfortunately much truth to what is written here. Good work! ~Hugs~ ~Somewhere in my heart I'm always |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (tears fall down my cheeks) Oh Melissa, I know just how you feel, dearest friend, this is so very sad but true and though I am male, I too am so very upset over how the media treats women and epects of them to be and I for one despise of these ideas. (BIG HUGGGSSSSSSS) I believe that a woman should follow her own heart and do what she desires and follow her dreams and never have to submit herself into this kind of supermodel business, for the true beauty of a woman always rests in their hearts, and you have a true heart of gold that floods with such love. (sigh) Never let anyone tell you what your future should be, always follow your heart and let yourself be a woman with a free heart! (kiss on cheek) God Bless You, sweet friend, my heart goes out to all women treated this way, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Melissa, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton |
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skyshine
since 2002-02-07
Posts 3058Beneath the northern stars |
I know. ~sky I'm in charge, and I say question authority! |
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Honeybee Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372Ontario, CANADA |
Serenity, Rick, Sandra, Sy, Enchantress, Noah and skyshine ~ thank you all for your wonderful replies  I remember all the way back to when I was 11 years old, and how I started hating my body and thinking that I was 'fat and ugly.' Even though I now know that I wasn't. I think that at some point in our lives, most women struggle with their identity. We are all constantly bombarded with what society wants us to strive for. I'll just leave you with a favourite quote of mine: "I'm sick of the masquerade. I'm sick of pretending eternal youth. I'm sick of belying my own intelligence, my own will and my own sex for the limelight. I'm sick of peering at the world through false eyelashes; so everything I see is mixed with a shadow of bought hairs, and, of false happiness. I refuse to be an impersonator. I am a woman, not a barbie doll!" Germaine Greer [This message has been edited by Melissa Honeybee (04-14-2002 02:25 PM).] |
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SmartChick Member Rara Avis
since 2001-09-23
Posts 7081On A Journey To The Unknown |
I feel this way myself, Melissa! I eat enough to stay alive. Just once a day is all I eat. I don't even eat all that is in front of me. Still, I don't seem to lose near enough. But, I haven't gotten to the point of being anorexic. My phylosophy is, "if they don't like the way I look, then just don't look at me!" Please, take care of yourself. |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
you've written of this before. . . and, again, you tell it with a grace, a feeling, and a hint of sorrow. . . and that is what makes this what it is. . . superb work. . . --------------------------------------------------------- To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. |
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SmittenKitten Senior Member
since 2001-06-20
Posts 1131where the sky and horizon meet |
MelissaBee~ Sweet poetess, I don't know what you look like, nor do I have to, to know that you are beautiful. Anyone with the courage and sincerity to write a poem like this is as beautiful as they get in my books! No, you are not a barbie doll, you are a tender soul with deep-seeded beauty that will last forever. Hugs, ~Krista  Your beautiful words & creativity allow me to connect with the same in myself. |
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Chelsea~ Member
since 2001-02-09
Posts 260Ontario, CANADA |
missy, powerful stuff here, as only you could express it. For the most part, I agree and really feel the message |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Even I wear a smile in all it's frailty knowing that I am their object, their experiment, their dissaproval and puppet. How sad, that I have the scissors yet not the will to cut the strings. ===================================== I must echo Kristas comment...your honesty and sincere heart is a beautiful thing to witness. Heart-hugs to ya Melis... your powerful pen will be your "scissors" that sets you free. how about how good it feels to finally forgive you |
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Honeybee Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372Ontario, CANADA |
Thank you SmartChick, Sven, Krista, Chels and JM for your honest and sincere replies, it means a lot, especially with this important poem. Rest assured, that all is well with me right now. I try to eat healthy and exercise as often as I can, but, even I find myself a victim of insecurity trying to live up to an unattainble beauty. Many Hollywood actresses are now striving to be a size zero!  Geez, they make me sound fat, and I'm size 9 now (yes I've gained weight, oh well, I'll lose it for the summer).Anyways, I'm not trying to get too personal, but, when I was between 16-19 I suffered severely from eating disorders and I am lucky that I lived. I lost 35 pounds in a month and 10 days - now that is dangerous, and I stopped eating completely and exercised vigrourously for 4- 6 hours a day. Looking back now, I have no idea how I found the strength to do so. I looked like a skeleton and I remember how my family and friends would cry and beg me to eat. Now, you can understand why I must write these poems. I also consider it as anthem on behalf of all women. "Poetry is not an opinion expressed... |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
I want a woman with some meat on her bones...James |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
How sad, that I have the scissors yet not the will to cut the strings. In a powerful poignant poem, these lines stand out for me... I've never been able to solve the paradox of being told I must love myself when the ones I love turn away... how do you gain esteem while being rejected? When I read the title, my first response was a grin... the name my parents had picked for a boy child was so hideous I was glad to be female. *S* But the sadness seeped in through your words... it sure would be nice to be judged for what you are instead of how you look. *S* |
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