Real Women Have Curves

Real women who jump,
start revolutions

Her feet mark earth

when they fall.

Real women have curves,

dreams, tears,

places to store

the unbroken seams

of her identities.

Hijabi pilots, poets,
new world leaders,
queens, ministers,

saints and healers.

Real women have curves,

throw curves,
Arc the courses

of other lives
Are loathed or envied

or villified

Become saintly

and sanctified

though she never aspired
to inspire

the quiet housewife

to fire.

- Shaista Tayabali, 2009

images: some of my favourite real women, Queen Rania and Michelle Obama, Mother Theresa and Lady Diana, Dr Maya Angelou

The title of this piece is also the title of a play by Josefina Lopez, which was eventually made into a film starring America Ferrera - both are just wonderful!