Unorthodox | Teen Ink

Unorthodox

November 6, 2014
By iyoung17 BRONZE, South Orange, New Jersey
iyoung17 BRONZE, South Orange, New Jersey
2 articles 1 photo 0 comments

They love their G-d:

submissive creatures
doing Him justice
with their shielded elbows
and covered knees
lips untouched
by the savagery
they knew to be men
“Marriage (by the age of 25)”
“Children (six at least)”
as if to lower their
Private aspirations and 
expectations
into the soil where their ancestors rot

I expose my
elbows
        knees
                shoulders
                        thighs
                                hips
                                        abdomen
because I can not stomach
living in a box
I allow him to celebrate the subtle curve of my hip
from my torso
as I prance across the dance floor
and I might even let the boy kiss me as he drops me at my door
and there will be no Rabbi or Chuppah
I do not plan for
                                        one
                                two
                        three
                four
        five
six
children in my future
heavenly Him will just have to forgive me because
I love myself.


The author's comments:

This piece explores the nature of religion, specifically Judaism, as related to a woman's role in their religion. How much is one willing to give up for one's religion and where do you personally draw the line? Sometimes it's ok to defy the majority if you believe you're doing what's just and fair. 


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