To be fat | poem

Picture by Owentando Zantsi

To be fat

Is to take up space.

So much space that

Your personality

cannot dare compete.

Because God knows

A fat girl can't be loud

Or weird or

Anything but comic relief.

To be the fat friend

Is to be the elephant

in the room

That is so often ignored

by the men that approach your friends.

And to never make the cut

When pictures are being posted

Because yours always

seem to look a little weird.

To be fat

Is to make sure you're

Just funny enough to

Be tolerable but not

Enough to grab too much attention.

Lest you be reminded of your stature.

It is to be humble

And kind.

Never asking for

too much from anyone

Or being too opinionated.

"The fridge protecting the snacks"

they say

To the fat girl who

Protected her drunk friend

From a stranger.

Oh dear child,

Did you not know

That being fat meant

You had to be submissive and quiet?

Or that it meant to starve the anger

That dances with your shame?

To be fat, dearest,

Is to have your necessity

and worth determined

By how much you can make those around you look good.

To be fat...

Oh to be fat is not

for the weak, my love.

Because it is only those

Strong enough to

bite their tongues

That can do it.

It's those that continue

to thirst for a life

beyond the prison of

others' judgements

That find happiness.

To be fat

Is to live.

Even if it hurts.

And to love,

Even when it's only yourself you love.