Blessing/Curse/Woman

[LorettaYoung]

Because I am a woman,
I am expected to be an impossible version of myself.
Because I am a woman,
Every lens I look through is distorted to imperfection.
Because I am a woman,
I try to turn every ounce of hate for myself into love for you,
Until I am bone and skin.
Because I am a woman,
I was taught that this is the only way I would get love back.
Because I am a woman,
The only way to be happy is to call for an uprising,
To fight an unholy war until I return to the soil.
Because I am a woman,
My existence is catastrophe.
But because I am a woman,
I am strong enough to survive.

Hi; I enjoyed the poem interested because I am a woman.  I do agree that you can limit "because I am a woman", perhaps as a title and first line and end thought. I agree that you can show more of what you mean by using imagery; for example,
in what way are you expected to be an impossible version of yourself. And I don't agree that being a woman necessarily entails self hate; could you elaborate on this. In a way it seems very personal to you. I would also elaborate on why an uprising, and what kind of uprising is necessary for a woman to be happy. If you expand these thoughts with imagery, and lessen the line "because I am......" your poem would be more vivid. I do like the metaphor of "bone and skin". But I would love to hear more about the "catastrophe.  Thanks for posting. I'd love to hear in more depth really. Loretta