“You said that would be gone by now”
The mother says pointing at
The heaps of clothes strewn across
The little girl’s bedroom floor

10 years later, the mother says,
“You said that would be gone by now”
pointing
At the soft roll that pudges out
on her little girls stomach

Water park waves rush up my strawberry legs
My too flabby stomach pudges out over my swimsuit
My big ole ***** are spilling out the sides
The chlorine is eating at my hair dye
And I of course forgot to wear waterproof makeup so my acne is all too visible
But surprisingly I don't care
For the first time in a long time these aren't the thoughts that consume me
Sure they come, but they go just as fast
Because I'm having a blast and I feel loved
I feel completely embraced by the sunshine
The rays seem to be radiating from my imperfect body
I feel at peace and in love
And I realize I am

May you wash your feathers in light so blinding others cannot bear to behold
May you return from waters deep-
So white and without blemish-
The creatures at your bed’s end cower from your glory
May they fear the turn of your heel and flee from your footsteps
You- without fault-
Holy
Your skin sits in pudges
Your hair stands on end
Your jaw is set too strong
Lips far too much like a man’s
Can you see your Father’s reflection?
Holy like his Bible
Holy like his morning devotion
You can be too much
And by God
There it is again
You are your Father’s reflection
Staring back at the ******
What righteous defiance god shows in the face of his creation’s howling
May they all tremble.