In October 2016
In October 2016
The costume I’ve too long worn: compliance.
Once on an Indian train, in the creak
of mustard-dust plain, a student trying to find
some laudable use
for the 18 hours, I asked the man across
the best quality in a woman.
He replied without beat/blink: “submission.”
I’ve worn mine Western style, pulling
at the belt loops, bra droops, specializing
in bowed uplift.
********************
Poem of sorts for Mama Zen’s prompt on Real Toads to write about the Halloween costume we may wear this year in 65 words or less. Perhaps with more words I would have written of non-compliance! The pic is mine from the Pergamon exhibit that was at the Metropolitan Museum in New York earlier this year.
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Tags: costume poem, http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com, manicddaily, sick of it poem, women's rights poem
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ManicDDaily 
October 7, 2016 at 10:45 pm
Very good write, K. I can identify, but aren’t like that anymore. Free and my own person. Well, maybe in spirit I am. Women should be free spirits, I believe. They were born that way but somewhere in life the way seems to change for most.
..
October 7, 2016 at 10:45 pm
An excellent response to the prompt. Your words resonate with me, for sure.
October 8, 2016 at 5:26 am
This makes such a huge statement in these latter days of feminism, karin. I shudder to see womanhood turning itself back into something to be objectified… Well, we tried our best.
October 8, 2016 at 7:43 am
Thanks, Kerry. It is terrible to see. k.
October 8, 2016 at 8:26 am
Oh, that’s powerful, K. And especially well-timed with tape of Mr. Trump’s particularly heinous attitude towards women coming to light. It feels like one step forward two (or more) steps back.
October 8, 2016 at 2:25 pm
Oh I admire your restraint in not saying anything back to the lout!
October 8, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Alas… there are too many cowardly men who cannot understand anything else from a woman… unfortunately we are all compliant to the bullies…
October 8, 2016 at 8:05 pm
“I’ve worn mine Western style”
Yes, even here n the “enlightened” west. An excellent reminder that we a knack for seeing the splinter in another’s eye while ignoring the log in our own. Great write, K.