Let me grow my hair,

so you won’t trace the slope of my collarbone

like it was shaped for your gaze.

Let me drown my arms in fabric,

so a stranger’s fingers won’t twitch with hunger,

so no one will say I was asking for it.

It’s just a hand,

just a hand

but I didn’t know a piece of me

could call out in silence,

could summon wanting

I never invited in.

Let me disappear under long sleeves,

let me vanish in loose folds,

so you won’t see the curve of my waist

and blame me for your craving.

Let me hide every inch of skin,

as if my body were a lock

and your desire the only key.

I have done everything.

Now tell me-what more should I give?

Should I carve away the flesh,

peel myself down to bone,

so you will finally see

what keeps me awake at night?

Should I hold out my wrists,

let you read the stories

written in fine white lines?

Should I turn my face,

so you can study the hollows,

the weight beneath my eyes,

the proof of all the nights

I have battled myself?

I want you to see

to see beyond the skin,

beyond the body,

beyond the hourglass frame

that cages me inside your fantasies.

I want you to know

that I am more.

I am the ache in my own chest,

the breath I hold between words,

the voice that breaks but still speaks.

Don’t just crave my skin.

See me.

Beneath My Skin || Ariana Afrin Emu

Ariana Afrin Emu is a gifted poet whose words paint vivid emotions and tell captivating stories. With an extraordinary talent for writing poetry, she has a unique ability to express deep feelings and thoughts in a way that touches the hearts of her readers. Her verses reflect her creativity, sensitivity, and passion for the art of language. Ariana’s poetry stands as a testament to her talent and her dedication to the world of literature, making her a rising star in the realm of poetic expression.