MY ROUNDING WOMANLY BODY by Leslie Caplan

 This poem came out of the belly of my changing body as I reach toward menopause with tenuous, tentative hands…

I want to resist, but we all know; that doesn't work. So I give in: Surrender to the softening of body while embracing the strengthening of wisdom that wells up from years of moving through life as deep, human and hearted as possible.

This piece is a celebration of women, birth, aging, self, earth, death, sensuality, acceptance and full-on embrace for the inevitable changes along life's curvaceous road. 

My Rounding Womanly Body 

by Leslie Caplan

My rounding womanly body 

moves through

each veiled doorway

and pierces light into the ancient

Rounded

Womanly

Birthing brewing body

holding earth

embodied

with eyes that ignite 

the awakened ones 

holding true to who they are

Sensuous breathing steamy 

curvaceous bodies

give life in oceans

swallowing whole 

sea waters of wisdom

aglow with fire and moon

and all those beautiful shades

of blue

that seep into

the cracks of daylight

This rounding womanly body

written in stars and dangles off 

each pointed tip, a pearl

of strength and courage

and insight so deep

the night turns blacker

from its depth

Round womanly body

gives birth to

boys that turn men

warriors of the womb

And girls to woman 

in love with their own bodies

How dreams come true

and into

full fruition

Rounding womanly body

Aging into weathered wisdom

of a life so intensely lived

we flower

we bloom

we wither and pass on

such depth with each footprint

we've left here 

on the ground

So round

so womanly

so quenched

Plump with nectar and spice

A wet-kissed tongue 

slurping the flavor of its own juice

The juice of 

this round and womanly heart

soul

ache exquisite

and profound

In the weighted belly of a tear

grows life

grows life

grows life

Rounded

Soft

Agile

Substance in the love-grab of a hand

taken by the ripeness

of change

the deep, unwavering acceptance 

of all that fades

and appears again whole

inside the eyes
of the adoring.

Leslie Caplan is a passionate writer and has been published internationally. She is a professional Writing Coach and editor who encourages and evokes the strongest, deepest expression of the writer's voice and heart.  She also facilitates writing workshops where writing is used as a tool for revealing and healing.  She lives in the small town of Ashland, Oregon and you can connect with her on her website here. 

~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~