Causing my belly to stretch and protrude like a little pot
From fifty-four months of providing a nurturing haven in my womb
Stretch marks snake their way up and down my belly and buttocks
Like the stripes of a zebra
Gravity has taken its toll on my breasts
Even though they stand proudly held in place by firm support
The have nourished little ones
And my hips have spread like the wide plains of the Sahara
Rubbing together as I walk.
Gone are the days when my belly stretched out flat across my middle
And I could twist and bend like a worm in all directions
And the hands of my beloved could wrap itself around it in a single grip
Gone are the days when my breasts stood at attention
Boldly and proudly screaming of youthful exuberance
And gone are the days when my hips were nicely molded and firm
With a gap between them
As I embrace the new shape and design of my body
I feel no shame, only pride
It is a revelation of the fact
That I have given life
This gift I celebrate today
Author Bio:
"I am an old-fashioned woman who loves God, knowledge and documenting daily life, culture and women’s issues through words and pictures." Ooluss Louisa Ibhaze started writing at a very early age with her friends and sisters as my proofreaders. She loves the ability to create characters and make them do what she wants. Coming from a family with many women, growing up was fun as there was always something to gossip and argue about. Her writing is greatly influenced by spirituality, passion for African culture and tradition, gender and life experiences. If given the opportunity to come back to the world as an animal, she would come back as an eagle. She holds an Msc in Medical Sociology, a second Msc in Globalization and Development and a BSc in Sociology and Anthropology. She has one published novel, a number of magazine and online publications, and a blog. She also has online journals on the World Pulse Project, Naija Stories and African Writer. She has recently completed her first poetry collection titled "Winds Of My Sahara." When she is not writing, she indulges in her other passions, which are taking pictures and traveling.