Sewn Together by Men

the pattern of male praise came in a ziplock bag I found it and it looked like the length of my legs the shape of my smile the dots on my body and the look in my eyes because of them I cannot see myself the same again

I am sewn together by words given to me a collaborative piece of art sewn together by the men of my past my outline was traced with the praise from my brothers and father

stitch by stich word by word who said that men cannot sew? I am a masterpiece of their thoughts a manifestation of their careful attention

just like you, I want to admit that I can be on my own and I want to believe I'd be better off

but again, just like you, I don't want to rip my stitches apart I don't want to have to sew it over again on my own