Woman In Chains

Woman in Chains 

Inner child blinks back tears through the cheval glass
At a bruised reflection staring back, 
Battered by the hand of perfection,
Wearing chains in glimmering pearls deception,
Beauty and the beast - beauty now turned beast -
Though in the grip of vogue,
Restrained designs fettering creativity,
Beneath the veneer of outlandish style,
Wears hand-me-downs;
Wounded dove, kissed with a rose from the mist
Gasping on the runway of perfection
Beneath the blazing sun of cutting tongues
Behind made up faces,
Disappears into a chalice -fiery crucible -
Of coveted, borrowed, chains – 
A dark kaleidoscope of shifting shapes and sizes -
Of stolen sublime – esteem devoured – ravished -
In runway parades of opaque flawless delusion 
Skin hanging from a bony dress frame
Of starving wings scarred by black veils of distortion
With the salt of conformity heaped onto tender wounds
Searing tender flesh reaching out
In manacles for models of the meticulous 
Bound up in chains of unforgiven imperfection 
Forged in expectation’s subtle abusing links
With parables of precise precision
Handmaid designed by faultless perfection unseen the in the reflection   
Till, clothed in a sheath of a new creation,
Slips out of leg shackles, greased by grace,
The inner child in somersaults soars on wings re-stored.

About 30 million people suffer from Anorexia Nervosa – both women and men.  It can be a fatal disease effecting heart, kidney and liver functions.  It is most prevalent in teenagers and young women.  Anorexia took the life of singer Karen Carpenter, ballerina Heidi Guenther and model Isabella Caro.  Princess Diana suffered from Anorexia.  The recovery rate is very low – about 20%.  This is definitely the story of Beauty and the Beast.

8-26-20
Contest: Woman in chains

30 lines
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

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

Radhakrishna Avatar
September 3, 2020 at 9:28 AM
Congratulations on your win! I still see people with this Problem a bit hard to treat. I know a young female surgeon who suffered from this disease! Important issue raised. Well done!!
Buehler Avatar
September 2, 2020 at 7:50 PM
Sam you have written this awesome verse with such eloquence, feeling and insight. That beauty begins with good health is a lesson all people should grow up believing. I have a short story posted on this site about a model with the disorder. Congratulations on your top win.
La France Avatar
September 2, 2020 at 11:07 AM
Sam, congratulations on your win with this excellent poem _Constance
Kauffman Avatar
September 2, 2020 at 12:50 PM
Thank you Constance. I so appreciate your words of congratulations and your message! hugs and prayers to you...
Watt Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 4:06 PM
You have written of this disease with such compassion and poignancy, Sam. Powerful lines throughout; my eye was especially caught by the alliterative phrases "shifting Shapes And Sizes", "manacles for models of the meticulous", and "parables of precise precision". As always, you leave room for grace and hope in your conclusion. Beautifully crafted, my friend. Congrats on your top win! ~ John
Kauffman Avatar
September 2, 2020 at 12:49 PM
Hi John! Thank you for your congratulations! I was amazed at where this theme took me. The search for perfection in the external world leads so many down strange, and often fatal, paths. I so wanted the end of this poem to recognize God's beauty in all of us - to recognize the survivors of this disease. I guess I'm just addicted to hope! Blessings to you my friend.
Allison Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 3:44 PM
love your interpretation of the theme Sam, i have worked with a child with this condition its truly heartbreaking ... she is grown up now and amazingly working as a chef!:-) hugs jan xx
Kauffman Avatar
September 2, 2020 at 12:41 PM
Thank you so much for your message and your congratulations Jan - much appreciated. How blessed this child was to work with you and your compassionate heart! Isn't it ironic that she now works with food! Thank you for sharing this survivor's story. I am blessed by your sharing! hugs...
Koplin Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 2:20 PM
Sad tale. Well written my friend! Congratulations on your win
Kauffman Avatar
September 2, 2020 at 12:36 PM
Thank you Mark. It is a sad tale as anorexia distorts the inner beauty of each person until there is nothing left of God's wondrous creation. Blessings my friend. Thank you for your visit!
Pandit Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 12:36 PM
BIG congrats Sam on your TOP win--you certainly deserved it with this touching write.
Hamilton Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 8:17 AM
This is what I was hoping for, a true free verse that encapsulates the meaning of the theme, a wonderful write Sam, thanks for your lovely entry and congrats on another great win!
Kauffman Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 9:26 AM
John, thank you for sponsoring this theme! The entries that I have read have been powerful covering a variety of subjects. They were impressive. Knowing the selection you had to pick from, I am deeply honored to be on the podium. It was a great theme. So grateful for your placement and opportunity to write on anorexia, self esteem - the influence of the fashion industry. Blessings my friend!
Dutta Avatar
August 31, 2020 at 9:40 PM
The sensual poem will touch every heart. I was completely ignorant about 'Anorexia' Also i have special sympathy and regards for Princess Diana.
Kauffman Avatar
September 1, 2020 at 9:31 AM
Thank you Anisha. I am so glad that this poem introduced the disease of anorexia to you. It is an insidious disease that warps self esteem. I also wanted to highlight the way the fashion industry puts chains on women - and some men. All the best. Sending you blessings!
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