The Fallacy of Female Beauty

By Tanvi Dayal

Why is the beauty of women

floral at best?

Transient?

Withering?

Weak?

Put that notion to rest.

As if "Frailty"

Was the only name

granted to us.

What about strength?

What about strength?

Of steely eyes that have borne witness,

To countless storms.

And lit the lamps,

that guide lost ships home.

Of Hands,

Whose powers bind, not shatter.

Hands that, through forceful ministrations,

Form scattered flour

into nourishing dough.

Of Feet,

That have left their

prints across continents.

Across centuries.

To end up as nary a footnote,

in the pages of history.

Of the width of hips,

and the swell of bellies;

That encompassed,

At one point,

The expanse of the whole world.

In names,

That have held power,

As warships, as typhoons,

As allegories of justice,

of freedom,

of liberty.

What about strength that gives,

And gives,

And gives,

When it has always had

The power to take it all away.

The fallacy of female beauty,

Is of being peaceful.

And yet,

Being forever mistaken,

As harmless.

By Tanvi Dayal