She Hides
She hides her shape
from patriarchal pawing,
donning ill-fitting mumus
in off-putting shades,
passively cultivating ugly
hairstyles through neglect.
But I see her curves
through shadows against light
and flimsy cotton;
in her soft smiles
when she thinks no one
is watching, in her gentle
touch of stem as she bends
to smell the rose.
I want to reach out,
to tell her she is beautiful,
that I see beyond
her disguise; that I understand
why it feels necessary,
feels safe. I want her
to look into my eyes as mirrors
so she can see
and step outside
of her prison.
She Hides came to me and wrote itself. Part of it is a love letter to myself. Also, it is dedicated to Masked Beauty in Tom Robbins’ seventh novel, _Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates_, first published in 2000. Every Tom Robbins novel has memorable characters. Like Sissy Hankshaw in, _Even Cowgirls Get the Blues_, I’ll never forget she who decided to live in the middle of a Syrian desert.
Björn is today’s host of dVerse’ Open Link Night.
Tao Talk 
A sad world it is when women feels they have to hide (or maybe being forcced) to wear those clothes… love how you wrote it.
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Bjorn, yes it is. I really hope one day poisonous patriarchy is neutralized. One reason why so much is riding on the POTUS election in November. Thank You.
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A powerful, powerful poem Lisa!
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Sanaa, thank you very much. <3
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An intriguing poem, which makes me wonder who ‘she’ is. And then I think, maybe she is everywoman hiding her shape ‘from patriarchal pawing’, with her ‘soft smiles when she thinks no one is watching’.
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Bingo, Kim <3 I daresay it may resonate for everywoman.
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I love Tom Robbins. Will look out for anything I haven’t read yet. An ode to all of us Lisa, who’s been to hell and back more than once for some.
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Petru, he’s one of my top 2 favorite authors, Chuck Palahniuk being the other. Thank you for seeing the poem is an ode to all of us <3
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I love the descriptive knowingness and protection written in your lines so tell telling, Li💕
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Cindy, thank you, my dear <3
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So sad that she must or feels she must hide her body. I felt for the woman in this poem.
One of the many, many things that anger me–the belief by some that women are the weaker sex, and yet they have this superpower that renders men incapable of controlling themselves. UGHHHH!
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It’s a rigged system, and I know you know what I mean by that. It operates similarly to the machinations of institutionalized racism, imo.
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Yes, I agree, but it’s also a system backed with beliefs by many–a long history of beliefs.
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Love to see Matisse. Great choice.
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Gia, if you ever read that book, you’ll know why I chose it :)
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I love it when the reason for a creative choice clicks. One of my favourites was realising why the movie Parasite (2019) has that title.
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I think we all feel the necessity to protect ourselves from men too much of the time. Just because they are too immature to control themselves. They should be the ones made to stay out of sight, behind walls, if they can’t behave like adults. (K)
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Kerfe, that would work for me. Or safely behind their keyboard ;) Women should not have to be afraid to go out and about for fear of being accosted by leers, comments, attempts to intimidate, attempts to touch, or be attacked, etc. It’s because women know that the odds of being accosted are good and the odds of the accoster being held accountable are poor. What’s bad is how the system is designed to allow this bs to continue.
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Well, look who is running things. It will take a lot to change it, as many young men are more resentful of women than ever.
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A very compassionate poem…..
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Nolcha, thank you.
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This is a beautiful and poignant piece, Lisa, with rich imagery that evokes so many feelings about the oppression women must feel, and increasingly so, which is mind-boggling in a society that is supposed to make progress for all.
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Steve, thank you very much. We seem to have taken more than a few steps backward :( When I think of my granddaughter having to put up with it, it makes my blood boil.
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You’re welcome, Lisa. Yes, it is very troubling.
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Nice one Lusa a sad state of affairs
Happy you dropped by my blog
much♡love
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Thanks, Gillena and my pleasure.
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Such a wonderful and emotional poem. I felt tears brimming through the second stanza. Beautiful writing Lisa. :)
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Di, this one came from the heart. Glad you connected with it.
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As one whose partner is currently in deep depression as a result of “patriarchal pawing” over sixty years ago, I truly appreciate this, Lisa…
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Andrew, I’m so very sorry to hear it. Depending on what happened, who was involved, accountability of the offender, etc. it can compound the trauma. It can also “refashion” the perceptions in a way that one will never (completely) get over it. One CAN however, process it with support people and lessen its long-term effects over time. One thing your partner must remember first: IT WASN’T THEIR FAULT. There are aspects that might lead them to believe they contributed, BUT THOSE ARE FALSE. The biggest myth is because they may have had a physiological reaction it meant they wanted it. NOT TRUE. Might I suggest a workbook that helped me (and the rest of us in our support group): Shelter from the Storm. https://www.amazon.com/Shelter-Storm-Survivors-Sexual-Abuse/dp/1515030237
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Thanks Lisa, her age makes it more dificult too. She has done a lot of therapy over the years but is really stuck at present…
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If she can find a local support group for victims of sexual abuse, it can help her find hope and healing. A therapist is good, but supplemented with a support group of survivors can get life changing. Also, please consider buying that workbook for her. It debunks so many things about the abuse.
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This is so beautiful and tender Li. We all need that reassurance once in a while
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Thank you very much, Sadje.
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Most welcome my friend
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A very touching and beautiful poem, Lisa.
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Robbie, thank you.
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My pleasure
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We live in a world where men are given a free pass to objectify women, it makes me sad to think that a woman would go to such lengths to escape all this…
This is a great and powerful poem!
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Veera, I’m glad to give you a moment to pause to understand what women must do to keep themselves safe, physically and emotionally. Thank you very much for your comment.
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A gentle poem with a potent message and I empathise with this camouflaging of curves (and as therapist have heard more horror tales than my ears can take sometimes)
BUT we must stop blaming men though for the sins of one or two else we end up ‘castrating’ them by omission and commission. I have a son and grandsons and would hate to burden them thus
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Laura, thank you and I imagine you have.
I wish it were only “one or two.”
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I love your poem, Lisa..
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Judy, thank you <3
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This is beautifully written, Lisa! I love how you bring the beauty out of the fearful and hidden. A well-done word of wisdom!
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Much appreciated comment, Dwight. It came from the heart.
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I could tell! :>)
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I like the fact that this poem has a mind of its own, well written, Lisa. :)
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Kitty, thanks much :)
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You are welcome, Li. :)
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A nice tribute to a lovely Matisse.
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Thank you, Chris. I bet you’d love Tom Robbins’ writing.
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I’m sure ! And I do love Matisse.
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Love letter to myself ~~~ yours is exquisite. The second stanza especially took my breath away. Sighs all the way ’round (pardon pun.)
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Helen, glad (yet sad) the poem resonates with you. Thanks much.
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This is beautiful Lisa. This speaks to many, maybe all, women, including me too.
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<3 thanks much
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Yes, I wanted her to step outside her prison, but one I kind of get too.
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Paul, thank you.
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Heartfelt, sincere and biting, I sense it is a prison for her.
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<3
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