Odalisque

There's a place to hang a hammock

on the hill above your house.

Here we are free

and know each other to be beautiful.

It pains me to see you grow

up up and away

to see you suck in your stomach

and sit up straight under their gaze

- the boys' -

because you love it when they look at you.

And that's okay.

But don't let their eyes give you your value.

You're worth so much more.

Like when you sillywalk down the hillside

or sing loudly out of tune or when your face twists 

because your mouth isn't wide enough 

to let all your laughter out.

I come second to you, but I don't mind.  

I've always sought out lights brighter than mine

in the hopes of illuminating something larger that I.

And so that I can hide.

But I can see where you broke,

where your spine snapped

from twisting back to please others

and the holes they left

and how you're insecure about the way

the tops of your thighs rub together.

Or the way you tiptoe around your mother.

There's a place to hang a hammock

on the hill above your house.

It's quiet here

and I hope you can see

you deserve so much better

than what they're giving you.