Weapon Relinquished

Who knew the power she would find behind fuchsia and lace,

a color she despised and a material that made her itch

Slipping that hideous shade over budding breasts,

made the awkward girl stand straighter,

feel safer,

and stronger,

and more like a woman,

than the wisp in the air that she was

Who knew that this discovery would continue to build confidence.

Every piece of satin and silk that hugged her young body,

made gangly limbs feel long and lean,

drew the male gaze that made her shiver like a falling leaf

yet feel brave, beautiful and bursting

She could unbutton one more button on her shirt,

smile sweetly, stare intently, ask for anything and receive it

Her body became her greatest weapon

and she knew it, and she loved it, and she cherished it

She didn’t know that when she exchanged fuchsia and lace

for white and sacred

She was also turning over her power

She was told, white and sacred would protect her

She was told, white and sacred would keep her safe from sin

No one told her that she would lose her sense of self

For a sense of identity she couldn’t identify with

For a sense of belonging to those who didn’t want to belong

Who knew that something so small could be something so big

Someone knew, just not her.