curvy

adults don’t realize how deeply their words

may affect children’s inner lives.

growing up, we both had curves

for which each of us were scrutinized

my scoliometer reading was unacceptable,

her body mass index too high

after bracing, my number was deemed rescueable

while hers sustained a judgmental eye

disparaging comments made to the girl so lovely,

demanding she try to be healthy and thin like me.

if I was so healthy, why was my spine in recovery? 

even as children, women’s bodies can’t just be free

judgmental statements should not be forgiven

after superficially discounting a person’s heart and mind

a body’s not something to aspire to—it’s something to live in.

and it’s beautiful to be curvy of any kind.