Being

Being real and whole and bodyful;
turning pages, greeting women who are flat and
glossy, magazine-slim and
dressed to kill budgets and men's eyes;
women with rainbow magazine eyes
breasts of a perfect no-size
with hips to match;
hands that spread wings and
fly in colors like birds,
and feet that perch and point
in heels and leather, or
perfect pink and brown barefoot footprints
in some Caribbean sand.

Being real and whole and bodyful;
with big hips and breast and belly,
filling rooms and other eyes
with this image
which does not slip across a glossy page
full of staples and designer fantasy.

- Maxine Tynes

From Woman Talking Woman by Maxine Tynes. Pottersfield Press. Used by permission.