A Woman is a Contortionist
Emil Benavides 2003 (Texas)
A woman is a contortionist.
Her oppressors, her lovers, her father
Her audience.
Watch as she bends her body
Into whatever shapes you like.
Breaking her bones
To fit the mold.
A woman is a contortionist
The two are synonymous.
Watch as she makes herself smaller.
Shrinking, shrinking, shrinking,
Almost disappearing.
Clap for her!
She does it for you, your convenience, your entertainment,
Your pleasure.
For your ego, fragile like fine china.
A woman is a contortionist.
Watch.
I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry
I don’t know
I mean, I think a woman is a contortionist, I think
I’m sorry I’m sorry I don’t know
I think I can shrink for you
For your applause
I’m sorry, you’re right
I’ll be quiet now.
About this poem
This poem is about the way women shrink themselves and make themselves palatable for those around them.
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Written on January 14, 2022
Submitted by Benavidesemil2003 on January 25, 2022
Modified on April 27, 2023
- 43 sec read
- 38 Views
Quick analysis:
| Scheme | AbcdefgAhbiibjbkAldmnmopqr |
|---|---|
| Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
| Characters | 741 |
| Words | 144 |
| Stanzas | 1 |
| Stanza Lengths | 26 |
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"A Woman is a Contortionist" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/119339/a--woman-is-a-contortionist>.
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