Dear body
One day I’m going to take care of you.
I’m going to treat you like my temple
Because you are sacred and embody more than greedy eyes and ravenous hands
You deserve to be showered with gold,
Not empty kisses and recycled compliments.
You are more than someone’s sexual fantasy
More than an exchange in a threesome request
More than ‘sexy’ and ‘tight’ and ‘hot.’
Dear body
I want to find you someone who worships you like Mother Earth
Because they know you can give life
Become earthquake and hurricane in anger
Speak a flow of words like the ebbing sea
Supply sun-like warmth in just one smile…
I’ll tell them that you are not just something to be penetrated and molested and used.
You carry me. And together we are one
One identity
One with feeling
One with so much to give.
Dear body,
One day my actions will reflect how much I love you
Because I will grow tired of these men
Who treat you like you’re nothing when you are my world
Because I will grow tired of the mindset that his sexual desire is all you will satisfy
Because I will grow tired of letting you suffer the abuse of my insecurities.
Dear body
Please be patient with me.
One day, I’m going to take care of you.
Isioma West 