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By Kimberly Nguyen
Posted on September 1, 2023
Cover Image Title: Butterfly Girl
Cover Image by: Kaitlyn Q.
Classification: Digital
Specifications: 3799 pixels x 4629 pixels, 132 dpi
Year: 2023
I love the way my heels clack when I walk
My own applause with every step I take
I love the way her dark hair attracts the looks of strangers as she passes through the streets
They love her hair
her thick, long, curly hair
She pulls out a pocket mirror to check her lip gloss
The bus passengers stare and she smiles politely at them
She rubs her lips together to distribute her gloss evenly
Getting her money’s worth, she dances and sings her heart out at the concert
Wiping the sweat away
knowing her heart is pounding even though she can’t feel the beat
She writes, knowing it will be her best yet
All the drafts piled up in the trash can next to her feet
In her hand, she holds her work, beaming with pride
And maybe she’ll brag about it
So what?
They love to see a woman’s sunlight but force herto wear sunglasses
Blinding us to our strength, power, and beauty
I won’t let my heels collect dust and replace its claps for your cheering
She won’t bunch her hair into a low bun
She refuses to sway her body passively and whisper along
She doesn’t overthink about the word choice she uses to describe how she feels about her new book
Even on her bad days, she is a woman full of life
Description:
This piece addresses how society constantly pushes women into a box where they are trained to think they are not allowed to recognize and present their worth with pride even with small things such as something they enjoy about their appearance or more personalized traits like their passions or interests. As a young girl, I’ve always denied compliments, found something negative about my work to even out the approvals by peers, and downplay my excitement for my own accomplishments in fear of seeming too self absorbed. Society constantly applauds women for their achievements, lively personalities, good skills, etc. but as soon as women also see that in themselves, they are painted out to be “too assertive”. At the end of this poem, shows the resistance to that belief. Other young women and I work to show that resistance by recognizing, being proud, confidently wearing our character on our sleeves.
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