Reclaiming My Reflection

I thought this challenge was very interesting because it made us focus on the outside of our bodies but ultimately, the inside is what truly came out.

I love how you kneel in your first stanza. Most people would stand in front of a mirror and analyze themselves but kneeling gives it a different kind of setting, like you don't feel confident enough to stand tall. You stare at yourself, blinking away tears, unable to recognize the stranger in the mirror. You have to force yourself to touch yourself, to trace the scars that he left upon you. But as you do this, you realize that even though you may be wounded, you won. You may have lost a few battles along the way but you won the war. You won't let what he did to you define you no more.You are determined to reclaim all parts of your body, mind, heart and soul. You will learn to love every inch of it, feel comfortable in your own skin and to feel beautiful once and for all. It is your home and it is something that only YOU will own, no one else will ever be able to claim your body again.

This piece is truly inspiring. I hope someone that is struggling with the aftermath of abuse will stumble upon this. I hope it will help them cope and that they will be able to learn how to reclaim their reflection just as you are. *hugs*

Terrified to trace my fingers
along the outline of my rigid body,
I force my trembling hands
to rest upon my thighs, as I
kneel naked before this mirror.
^^
Wow such a descriptive introduction - your word choice enables the reader to look through the eyes of the character looking at the reflection of the mirror, this makes the reader question their own personal reflection and how it makes them feel.

Blinking away tears of disgust,
shame escapes from my eyes
as I stare at the reflection of a stranger
who is trapped inside this damaged shell.
^^
You have definitely designed a clear image of the characters feelings. What truly sticks out to me in this stanza is
"I stare at the reflection of a stranger"
I believe these words are so powerful - who is this person I have become, it is not who I am meant to be...

My fingers begin to trace
my delicate skin, as I force myself
to be brave enough to claim back
every inch of my body that I once
thought would always belong to him.
^^
This stanza introduces a turn of events as it becomes interpersonal as there was someone your body (heart and soul) belonged to.

Touching my body for the very first time,
I caress every scar that shows
the battles I have fought,
and all the tormented nights that
I spent being tortured in his chambers.
^^
Wow, this is something I did not see coming, something so dark underlying the truth behind closed doors, abuse. I hate how people treat others especially those they are closed too, I believe you captured so much raw emotion and pain so immensely in your words, bringing to life such vivid memories of a tortured heart only seeking to be loved.

But although I may be wounded,
I can proudly say I won.
Because inside my heart of courage,
I know what must be done;
I must reclaim my body,
my mind,
my heart,
my soul.
^^
I really love this stanza as it is so empowering, you are not going to let the pain and shame take hold of you. It displays growth in the poem as well as a transformation from a person that was ashamed of herself looking sadly upon herself then you answer the questions of the reader, as it was abuse that led you to this shame, then now you have asserted yourself and you are embracing hope for a better alternative, being so positively drawn to your inner strength one that you never knew was there.

For this body is my home,
and I will learn to love it all
as something only I
shall ever own!
^^
I have got to say that this really stands out
"This body is my home" To me this is so strong like it is highlighted and bolded - it is a great metaphor one that is so true. If you dont look after your body properly it will become a mess both mentally and physically with health issues.

Thankyou Staffie for sharing such a talented, inspiring piece!

5/5 from me