PART ONE/ BODY
She dressed
Hastily
Alone
Averting her eyes
As loose flesh rolled
Over her frame
And by squeezing
And shimmering
Her frolicking hips
She pulled the bathing suit on
[that damned swimsuit on]
— gasping for air, she
Pledged allegiance
To the salad buffet, but
[Managed to]
Avoid outward curses or cries
PART TWO/IMAGE
She hated the (swim)suit
How it looked
How it felt
How it pinched and contorted
All of her rolls
Scars – and stretchmarks – and cellulite
Now on proud display
(and, for the record, she hated them too)
But – most of all
She hated herself
PART THREE/ ESCAPE?
Stepping out
Of the inner sanctuary
Tight closet
Of the changeroom
Was a feat
Reserved
Only for the bravest of souls
A battle of wills, and wits
So, donning a towel
And oversized tote
— filled with unnecessary items, but
Brandished as shield
She made her stand
Fleeing, towel wrapped,
Toward the poolside
Dreading the moment
She’d drop her towel
Thighs wobbling
Hips jiggling
And breasts sagging
In tight nylon restraints
She made her escape
Pretending, oh pretending
To ignore
The stares and whispers
— faint laughter
That followed her across
The slip-per-y
Floor
PART FOUR/ IMAGINE
Cornered poolside
She knew speed was her saviour
In matters of flash
And skin
Rippling rolling
The towel unfurled
From pendulous bulk
She stalked boldly
(Solid footsteps)
(In a) mass of flesh
and fury
to the edge of the pool
and perched, momentarily
birdlike, on the ladder
Then made her descent
As waters engulfed her
She floated, buoyant
Momentarily weightless
And fin-a-lly
Free
Photo Credit: flossyflotsam Flickr via Compfight cc
