Poems

Each year, young women participate in "The Body Project", an intensive six to eight week body-centered curriculum to promote strong and healthy bodies. The following poems were inspired by their experience in the program.

Body Speak to Me
by Jasmyne, age 14

Body, speak to me.
  Tell me how you feel.
  Tell me what you like and what you don't.
  Yell at me what hurts and whisper what you love.
Body, speak to me
  Tickle me to your pleasures and
  Punch me with your pain.

 

Body Speak to Me
by Ksharmel, age 18

Body, speak to me
when I don't have a clue
Body, tell me
what's wrong with me
inside and out
Body, speak to me
when I'm alone in the dark
and have no one to talk to
Body, speak to me

 

These Scars
by Charlotta, age 17

These scars tell more than a story.
These scars tell my story,
a story not long forgotten.

These scars tell of a girl turned into a woman.
Without any questions,
everything she ever had was taken.

These scars tell of a childhood
that she will never get back.

 

I Am Beautiful
by Eden, age 19

I am powerful.
The strength I have is endless.
I produce some energy that is silent
to the rest of the world.

My work is not finished.
I work diligently to make
my mind full of inspiration
to keep me going through
the dark days.

My beautiful mind can't be seen
by other people
because I have trouble
expressing all my
magical thoughts.

Time makes me more successful.
I neglect corruption
in my heart.
I let my mind flourish
when it needs to
without exception.
All my failures will become my success.
All the weakness in me is just fear,
but my powerful mind
will conquer it.
My beautiful self can't be caught.
It can only be bright.

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