Thigh Gaps And Other Traps | Poem by Ariel Bissett

A poem by yours truly. A massive thank you to Gregory White for helping me film this and for making this way prettier than I could have on my own!

a few years ago there was a person in a studio somewhere
who shouted out
in a flash of inspiration
that women shouldn’t have meat between their thighs
that gaps were the new thing!
so i had to take a pair of scissors and cut a hole there
and have to check
(on every reflective surface that i pass)
that i haven’t accidentally filled it up
with midnight ice-cream
or lunch time coke
did you know that i can play piano?
im actually pretty good

where i come from
when a girl turns 13
she is given the gift of a permanent choke hold around her ribcage
it was designed to keep her still, i think
i remember being excited for mine
until I turned 20
and realized i hadn’t breathed properly in 7 years
and that the best part of my day was taking it off
so i freed myself of it
but fell into another trap
(this one is invisible)
this one makes you nervous when it's cold
when two (apparently) blinding lights appear
keeping you hunched over
in case someone thinks you’re trying to make them see
so you roll yourself inwards instead
and sit safely inside your ribcage
i’m also really good at swimming
i did lifeguard training and everything
one time i saved my brother from nearly drowning

have you ever woken up to realize that
your body had been allocating some of your life
to build another one
but it’d missed the memo that
you
don’t
want
to
so it spilled it out onto the bed
or into your jeans
my mattress is full of these reminders
that my body is constantly searching and not finding
scratching me from the inside, trying to crawl out of my gut
taking my energy so that I have to sit in one place and think about it
laughing that i live in a world where i’m not supposed to shout about how
pads are uncomfortable
i’m always worried that i’ve bled through my clothing
my mood might be different but it’s still me so take me seriously
why do i have to pay money for these things
so much money for these things
i had to download an app to remember when he next one would be
tampons are kind of terrifying
changing pads in a public toilet is terrifying
i had the realization that the packaging is going to kill the planet
which is ironic cause i’m making the world worse for any baby
i studied really hard for four years and have a degree
and now i’m going to make use it to make things that i love

i want to read more
and eat more chocolate
i want to cuddle more
sleep in more
i want to write a book
and make more art
and try pottery (because everyone wants to try pottery)
and i want to do it all in a room where the walls are size 6’s and size 16’s and i don’t even notice
because as long as it’s keeping me safe, it doesn’t matter

[randyBbad]

The quiet smile of satisfaction at the end speaks volumes

[umm--__--]

I'm a man, so I can't fully understand some of those emotions but I can still appreciate the truth and the power of that poem. Very well done, Ariel.

Also, I'd just like to say that it made me smile to see you smile near the end, like you were proud of yourself and your poem, because you should be.

[ginathomas]

Beautiful Ariel. I'm 54. Wish you'd been around to tell me all this at 24. Please keep writing & sharing this message.

[anothergreatetcetera]

That was IN-CRED-IBLE, Ariel! My heart is beating very fast! What an absolute privilege to be watching people as inspiring as you are on YouTube.

[katerinaedwards]

please please please write more of these narrative and conversational poems!You are very talented and your mind is so beutiful and creative!

[stephpiano]

"My mood might be different but it's still me, so take me seriously." Fuck I love this so damn much

[gabrielamortoza]

I love the way you were able to put in such beautiful words all the ways I feel about existing as a girl in a society like ours. Thank you.

[aishikamitra]

The last line really made me think about myself and how everything today is about losing weight, be it to become fit or to be happiness. :) Beautiful.

[syaza]

STANDING OVATION. I AM STANDING. I AM CLAPPING. I AM NOT WEARING A BRA. STANDING OVATION.

[bishfish]

Dude, I know this isn't the point of your poem, but pottery is amazing. I'm constantly stressed out, and it's so soothing. Just the act of physically creating.

[melissabenitez]

Ariel. Thank you for this. It moved me to tears.
I consider you my twin from another mother and father.

[laurencydni]

you are one beautiful human being, ariel. when i have a girl one day, i think this is something that she needs to hear. <3

[misslethality]

Ariel. holy crap this was good. your poetry has come so far, it was good and now its great and amazing. well done with the filming too holy cow.

[kirstyhill]

I have no words for how perfect this is!

[lekiscool]

PLEASE BRING THESE BACK! OMG PLEASE. I've been watching you for a month and had no idea you put your poems to visuals. I love these in ways I can't even express. If your documentaries are like these I will devour them.

[elis.]

That was one of the most beautiful poems I have ever heard, and I have heard a lot. Please do more of them, they are extremely comforting.

[rapprenee]

I still come back to this poem in 2018. This is just so amazing!

[noskiesyoutube]

do yall realize how talented this woman is !?!?!?! 😍

[girlwithamonkeyhat]

This resonates with me more than anything else in the world right now

[writingthewrong]

I cannot even communicate how wonderful this is.