Ode the Strapless Dress
Every woman should own a strapless dress
Her shoulders deserve, what with the weight
Of the world on them, don’t you think they
Would enjoy a naked day?
Every woman should feel the wind on her
Naked skin, her hair moving like soft kisses
On her spine, chills flexing, ecstatic. Don’t
You think your clavicle would love the freedom?
Every woman should let the dress cup the
breasts, let the dress caress the belly, let
the thighs sigh under the cotton veil of a
circle-shape skirt…o, women! O dress!
Every woman should own and wear a
strapless dress. Wear it while cleaning.
Wear it to a wedding. Wear it to bed.
Stand over a fan, let the skirt holler.
VANESSA SHIELDS 