Mud Flap Girl

They look at me sidelong,

the long-legged yoginis, dressing

as we do, moist after class.

Donning mini-skirts

and knee-length boots

they wonder at her silver silhouette

emblazoned on black leather,

this demeaning artifact depicting the

ideal femininity of my native people.

Empowered by freedoms afforded us

by nothing more than our country of birth

and generations of courageous suffragettes

they wordlessly question my proud display,

my embrace and reclamation

of the urban goddess.

Head high as I walk away,

mud-flap girl winks chrome

between my belt loops.

~Andrine de la Rocha

posted 12/8/2010