dancing away

in moments of being seen

Dancing is a new found freedom,

one thats always been within me,

but was too scared to come out

tangled between wanting not to be seen

or wanting to take up space

but i’m not in that phase anymore,

my femininity glimmers through

somewhere between the music,

and the heart beating within my skin,

i remember that my body was not meant to be in a cage

and to stop treating tenderness like it’s something to hide

it can still feel discomforting,

when you’re out and men are ogling,

looking at me like prey,

like my movements exist for them

like my femininity is for their enjoyment,

like joy is something they can take ownership of,

just because they witness it

some nights,

their eyes sit heavy on my skin

and i become very aware of every limb again,

every step,

every sway,

every inch of myself,

i spent years trying to make smaller,

both physically and mentally

but i refuse to fold back into hiding,

to hide my joy,

to hide what we all have,

i refuse to dance like it’s an apology,

or avoid the excitement i feel

so i let the music drown them out,

i stay in the rhythm,

keep to my own little world,

where my body finally belongs to me,

where my heart shines through

and my defence is not in hardening myself,

but in continuing to just be me

lots of love,

love emm xxxx