My body. It is not yours to judge, shame, critique, objectify... My body is but a capsule for my heart, my true being. It does not tell you my gender, my identity, where I've been, what I've done, who I've loved... It aims to protect my self from the physical violence of others, the harm a life can endure. But things can seep through. Physical pain is only temporary, as the body has a way of healing itself. Inner pain can last forever. When you shame or try to categorize my being by my body, the pain is real. The shame one can feel. Not she, he... but me. Not sweety, sugar, babe... Or ugly, unkempt, shameful... Me. These words I soon hear coming from within, from myself... they are somehow harsher. Less conceiled. And every time someone speaks words to minimize my worth based off my body. The words cut deeper. It must be true... it must be bad... my ass must be of more value than my heart... Then I realize; This body, it is mine. It is strong. It has endured and will continue to endure. Their harassment, shame, ignorance, hate. That is theirs. This is my body.

*Anonymous  2  

                                               

   

*April  she/her  

7