MARGARET ATWOOD
THE FEMALE BODY
"... entirely devoted to the subject of 'The Female Body.' Knowing
how well you have written on this topic... this capacious topic
-letter from Michigan Quarterly Review.
1.
I agree, it's a hot topic. But only one? Look around, there's a wide
range. Take my own, for instance.
I get up in the morning. My topic feels like hell. I sprinkle it with
water, brush parts of it, rub it with towels, powder it, add lubricant. I dump in the fuel and away goes my topic, my topical topic,
my controversial topic, my capacious topic, my limping topic, my
nearsighted topic, my topic with back problems, my badly-behaved
topic, my vulgar topic, my outrageous topic, my aging topic, my
topic that is out of the question and anyway still can't spell, in its
oversized coat and worn winter boots, scuttling along the sidewalk
as if it were flesh and blood, hunting for what's out there, an avocado, an alderman, an adjective, hungry as ever.
2.
The basic Female Body comes with the following accessories: garter
belt, panti-girdle, crinoline, camisole, bustle, brassiere, stomacher,
chemise, virgin zone, spike heels, nose ring, veil, kid gloves, fish-net
stockings, fichu, bandeau, Merry Widow, weepers, chokers, barrettes, bangles, beads, lorgnette, feather boa, basic black, compact,
Lycra stretch one-piece with modesty panel, designer peignoir, flannel nightie, lace teddy, bed, head.
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