My Body: Taken + Given

I went to yoga yesterday,
For a little evening namaste
Laid on the ground (I swear it’s a pose)
And unexpectedly found a moment of woah

There in the dark, on the ground, half-awake Grew
a deep feeling that I couldn’t shake In that pause,
in that breath I made a connection— To my body. I
was still, calm and deep in reflection.

For the first time in a long time,
I was one with this body of mine
A voice spoke up from somewhere within It
said think of all you have taken and given.

To my body which has
Taken hate
Taken pain
Taken patience to love
Taken growth
Taken shape
Taken advantage of
You’ve taken care of me
You’ve protected me
You’ve taken the responsibility
To make sure I can live to see
Another day of being me.

To my body which has
Given me strength
Given me poise
Given me a work of art
Given me arms to hug
Given me legs to run
Given me a beating heart
You’ve loved me
You’ve carried me
You’ve given me a reason to be
Alive and moving and truly free.

For my body, I try harder to look in the mirror With
respect for the reflection, not judgment or fear It’s
been on a journey, it’s fought and it’s won I have to
love to this body because it’s my only one.

And with all it has taken,
As a body, it will never break, and
With all it has given,
I’m proud of the body I live in.