The Townley Venus

The first time I saw Venus

The Townley Venus at the British Museum

I was overthrown

Her stomach, gentle curvature

Arms risen in strength and fullness

Exposing a body, proud

But -

She does not look like the models I’ve seen

inmagazinesadvertsonthetrainsbusespostersbillboardseverywhereyoulookeverywhereyougoyoualwaystaketheweatherwithyou

I carry a heavy cloud of shame

- my body does not match theirs

Perhaps, with Venus, I recognised for the first time

My reflection - formed in similar fashion -

Replicated in stone

Standing tall

Not hidden beneath the baggy t-shirts I so

frequently adorn myself with

But naked

And open

For all to see

Now -

Just a reminder…

Venus is the second planet from the Sun

The only planet named after a female God

A God whose functions encompass love, beauty, desire,

sex, fertility, prosperity, victory

Born of sea-foam

Lover

Mother to all

Her depictions are many; all full-fleshed and rounded

So -

Why do I feel the urge to cut off my own skin

Carve myself down to bone

To mirror something I am not

When this Goddess, the symbol of life

Looks like that?