by Grace Lee
Because we stared at the mirror through
a fog of tears, pinching and pointing
as the male gaze held us tightly in its
suffocating grasp like the dresses they
squeezed us into. Because feminism
became the “F” word, inviting a chorus
of jeers as it left our lips, forcing us
into painful silence, our lips locked
and the key thrown astray. Because,
a curled eyelash is too much, and an
uncovered blemish is too little; we learned
that from dolls early, because Barbie,
with eyes bluer than blossoming
cornflowers and a needle-thin figure,
was an aspiration we desperately grabbed
for, only to realize it was out of reach.
Because we, with our childhoods stolen
and pushed into womanhood early,
deserve an apology we’ll never receive.
Because expectations have constricted us
like corsets for too long, and it is time to untie
the strings. Because we deserve to break free.
Grace Lee, a high school student in Seoul, South Korea, is passionate about words. Whether crafting stories or poems, she blends her unique perspective with the vibrant culture of Seoul. She has explored her passion for creative writing at the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop and Juniper Young Writers Online.
January House Literary Journal 
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