Anne Sexton - Woman With Girdle lyrics

Your midriff sags toward your knees Your breasts lie down in air Their nipples as uninvolved As warm starfish You stand in your elastic case Still not giving up the new-born And the old-born cycle Moving, you roll down the garment Down that pink snapper and hoarder As your belly, soft as pudding Slops into the empty space Down, over the surgeon's careful mark Down over hips, those head cushions And mouth cushions Slow motion like a rolling pin Over crisp hairs, that amazing field That hides your genius from your patron Over thighs, thick as young pigs Over knees like saucers Over calves, polished as leather Down toward the feet You pause for a moment Tying your ankles into knots Now you rise A city from the sea Born long before Alexandria was Straightway from God you have come Into your redeeming skin