Compassionate Body Scan
Starting with my head, I notice golden curls
unraveling softly over my collarbones.
Just below, my breasts gently sink stickily against the top fold of my belly skin.
I look down and finally believe what an acquaintance said:
I am one of those women in a Boticelli painting.
Sliding my hands down my sides, I feel my roundness
without moral implication.
My hips and legs melt into the surface beneath me.
I notice bruises on my thighs and shins that say, “Yes! Life happens here.”
I move my feet from side to side and, as if speaking when spoken to,
my ankles whisper, “Loosen me, I need to walk, dance, pedal.”
The visible veins at the top of my feet remind me of winding water bodies.
My toes are tiny and precious.
A challenge to readers: write a compassionate body scan poem for yourself. Reflect on each part of you that you notice. Be as kind and loving to you as you can.
7 thoughts on "Compassionate Body Scan"
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I love this! Although I think I’m too chicken to take up your challenge.
How does it sound to break the poem into chunks? For example, maybe today you write only about your hands, or some part that you feel fairly neutral about so that it’s not a big stretch?
Thanks for the kind words!
That is a good idea. I could probably handle one body part. I have a few that I am fairly neutral about. The rest? I guess I could try.
You’ve inspired me to try writing a body scan poem!
I definitely want to write a body scan poem inspired by your prompt! Being kind is difficult sometimes.
to our bodies, I mean.
I picked up what you meant :).