tiny steps for pretty feet
pretty feet that bring great pain
every step so very lady like
dainty steps, no pain, no gain
from her sixth birthday they bound her
bent and broken, tied up neat
bloody bandages discarded
freshly wrapped tight, pretty feet
a sign of riches when she cant walk
a sign of beauty she should be proud
no sympathy for falling teardrops
pretty feet, dont cry out loud
keep the pain inside, hold head up
walk the miles the bones to break
special shoes to show your beauty
pretty feet , rich wife to make
when you shake your head in horror just think of all the other things done all over the world in the name of beauty,tradition or chastity.
FOR THOSE THAT WANT MORE INFORMATION:
At about the age of six or seven when the bones of the young girl's feet were fully developed the footbinding began. It was generally an elder female member of the girl's family or a professional footbinder who started the binding. It was seen as preferable to avoid having the mother do it as she might be sympathetic to the pain of her daughter's feet and loosen the bandages.
each foot would be soaked in a warm mixture of herbs and animal blood, this is to soften the foot Then her toenails were cut back as far as possible to prevent ingrowth and infections since the toes were to be pressed tightly into the sole of the foot.
bandages, ten feet long and two inches wide, were prepared by soaking them in blood and herb mix . The toes on each foot were pressed downwards into the sole of the foot until they were broken, and held against the sole of the foot. The foot was then drawn straight with the leg and the arch broken. The bandage would be repeatedly wound in a figure eight movement, starting at the inside of the foot at the instep, then carried over the toes, under the foot, and round the heel, the broken being pressed tightly into the sole of the foot. At each pass the binding was tightened, pulling the ball of the foot and the heel ever close together. When the binding is done, the end of the binding cloth is sewn tightly to prevent the girl from loosening it. As the wet bandages dried they would constrict greatly, making the binding even tighter.
This binding ritual would be repeated as often as possible Each time the feet were unbound they would be kneaded to make the joints more flexible, then washed and the nails meticulously trimmed. Immediately after this pedicure the feet are rebound and the bindings are pulled tighter each time, making this process continually more and more painful. The girl was not allowed to rest after her feet had been bound, and would often have to walk long distances on her broken & bound feet, so that her own body weight crushed her feet into the correct shape.
A contest entry
- W000T! 50 TROPHIES :d:d:d:d!! by Lady Michaella.
495 points, ended February 22, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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Tearable what they do in some countries to their kids. Good poem and great follow up.
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Superb photo to go with your write. Great information on a tradition that can be seen as appalling in both the pain and restrictions that result. Makes those western whale-bone corsets look pretty tame...
Well rhymed. Consistent meter might make this even more powerful. Could almost hear an ancient matron telling a child, "very lady-like/dainty steps, no pain, no gain" and "your beauty/pretty feet, rich wife to make."
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it is painful, yet others does this for beauty. Notes tells it all. Very profound information in verse form. Thanks for sharing honey
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Very profound...
Thank you for sharing your thought-provoking (and painful) poem, I believe it is worthy of the golden chalice. Keep it flowing, Poet!! Peace always, xx Cyn 
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footbinding
ive know about this, but OUCH, seeing that picture...your poem describes this very well! i think the background information you provided is good for those who are not aware of this!
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wow.... that picture makes me feel sick! and this poem is an excellent way to portray shoes.. very original
great work!!
your judge,
-Lemon Bee-
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Your poem shows great insight into what was once a common but barbaric act among the wealthy in Chinese history.. There are so many horrible things we humans did and still, to this day, continue to do all for the sake of beauty.. I wonder if we will ever learn from the time that we are born we are fine just the way we are? What is it that makes us compulsively change our appearances to suit others? I don't know, guess that's best left to psychiatrists and philosophers, huh? This was very well done, but I think, to be honest, a little strange and sad for this contest..
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not strange my friend, the word promt was SHOES, i give you : SHOES
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