Ah, what you wanted for your sons
were little ladies hatched from the eggs
of pearls like pink and silver lizards

cool, well behaved and impervious
to desire and weather alike. Mostly
that's who they married and left.

Oh, mamas, I would have been your friend.
I would have cooked for you and held you.
I might have rattled the windows

of your sorry marriages, but I would
have loved you better than you know
how to love yourselves, bitter sisters.

Marge Piercy, from "Always Unsuitable"

Women have, for far too long, been trained to feel a competitive commodity—and one never quite up to standard.

Amongst ourselves—often, even when we are alone—the approach to knowing can become wary, doubtful, guilt-ridden.

I say, again, we must recognize all parts of one another—and ourselves—often, mightily, and without restraint.

We have ample beauty amongst and within us: Perfection, cause for celebration.

Lose the doubt. Dare not to compare.




Featured, in these photos, in order of first appearance: Eshey; Ilysse; Kristy; Elle and Lenni (with La Nena); Lenni; Altaira and Elle; Kim; PJ Whitt; Gia; Marshey-Hadiya; Merrick.