The first time I saw Venus
The Townley Venus at the British Museum
I was overthrown
Her stomach, gentle curvature
Arms risen in strength and fullness
Exposing a body, proud
But -
She does not look like the models I’ve seen
inmagazinesadvertsonthetrainsbusespostersbillboardseverywhereyoulookeverywhereyougoyoualwaystaketheweatherwithyou
I carry a heavy cloud of shame
- my body does not match theirs
Perhaps, with Venus, I recognised for the first time
My reflection - formed in similar fashion -
Replicated in stone
Standing tall
Not hidden beneath the baggy t-shirts I so
frequently adorn myself with
But naked
And open
For all to see
Now -
Just a reminder…
Venus is the second planet from the Sun
The only planet named after a female God
A God whose functions encompass love, beauty, desire,
sex, fertility, prosperity, victory
Born of sea-foam
Lover
Mother to all
Her depictions are many; all full-fleshed and rounded
So -
Why do I feel the urge to cut off my own skin
Carve myself down to bone
To mirror something I am not
When this Goddess, the symbol of life
Looks like that?
About the Creator
Annie Rew Shaw
Musician, writer, artist. Happiest when drinking black coffee and cuddling a cat. Enjoys talking about art, literature, food, politics, social issues and mental health.
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