They Don’t Know by Karina Guardiola-Lopez

BIO

Karina G-Lopez, is a writer, poet, actor and educator from New York City. She is the co-writer, marketer and actor of Live Big Girl, a poetic play that sold out at the National Black Theater, BAAD and The Tank Theater. Her works have been published in various magazines, anthologies and websites. She has also featured at various venues including: The NYC Poetry Festival, Bowery Poetry Club, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Q-Boro Lit Crawl, The Bronx Museum, Hostos Community College and many other locations. For more information please visit www.kglopez.com

Bare with me

As I expose this brave body

Big and uncomfortable to eyes

Not used to an extended nor expanded size...

 

When they look at you

They create a story based on

Perceptions and pre-conceived notions

It is fiction

It isn’t fact

They don’t know you

 

When they look at you

They may say:

He must eat a lot

She must inactive

They must go for seconds and thirds

But they don’t know

They don’t know you

 

They don’t know about

Hypothyroidism

 

They don’t know about

Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome

 

They don’t know about

Water retention

 

They don’t know about

Stress and Depression

 

They don’t know about

Insomnia

Slow metabolism

Anemia

Your medication...

 

They don’t know

That you just may be, who you are

 

No regrets, excuses or circumstances

 

They create a story based on

Perceptions and pre conceived notions

It is fiction

It isn’t fact

Because, they don’t know you

The Acentos Review 2019