Star On the Brink

The anorexia is not conspicuous,
being half-submerged, just
breaking through.
She’s a powdered mirage.
Her skin a hyaline shear
drawn over a necklace
of clavicle bones.
She knows her chest
is returning to childhood,
she wants to shelter there,
to be her own child.
Small breasts bob under
burgundy nipples,
buds made more prominent,
anchored as they are
to shipwrecked ribs.
Designer bling distracts.
Cameras whir, she poses,
one hand on a denuded hip,
not resting there,
but stealthily carrying
an ounce of flesh,
toward a spotlight.
We collude with her,
applaud the way
she decorates a condition.
We all know her emaciated beauty
is a mutual hoodwink.
We know that the closer to death
sexuality becomes,
the more rapacious our appetite,
the more we will wail,
as she slips
through our hungry hands.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

De Beaulieu Avatar
September 8, 2019 at 6:31 PM
Hello Eric Ashford, anorexia, that is too thin. looks horrible. They should gain weight. Being models they have to be a certain way so lose weight. They become too thin and unhealthy. Have a nice evening my friend.
Ashford Avatar
September 8, 2019 at 7:01 PM
Hello Darlene, yes to all you have mentioned, and thank you. Do please have a good evening also.
Lamoureux Avatar
August 12, 2019 at 11:48 AM
I like to read one poet like reading a book. I feel my time was well used this morning. Soup mail me, I would like to know more about you. Blessings Richard.
Lamoureux Avatar
August 12, 2019 at 9:48 AM
This vibrates my thoughts. My wife runs an eating disorder program and I will share this with her. Very powerful imagery. It seems we are all complicit.
Ashford Avatar
August 12, 2019 at 9:55 AM
Yes we are all complicit Richard for we all help promote this in some way. That is why I try to eat for two, just to redress the balance. Seriously, your wife is doing good work. Thanks for all the reviews today.
Ashford Avatar
August 8, 2019 at 2:40 PM
Thanks Suz, your review here nails the issue. Much obliged to you.
Delaney Avatar
August 8, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Amazingly insightful. Your description so eerily accurate. More than anyone we pressure ourselves to be thin- desirable at the cost of death. SuZ
Ashford Avatar
August 6, 2019 at 8:43 AM
Thanks so much Maureen, good to know it worked for you. Bless
Pigeon Tart Avatar
August 6, 2019 at 8:23 AM
WOW. (insert expletives) Excellent piece. A fave. I want to read it again right now but it's just too powerful...
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace