I’m such a hypocrite

i smile at people all day long
young and old
fat or skinny
abled or disabled
strange looking or plain as can be
it’s all the same

but when it comes to me
too fat too wrinkled too old
i’m full of criticism
and i can hardly bear
to glance into the mirror

if this would be a friend
confiding in me
i would be appalled
i would shake them and
tell them they’re crazy
and to snap out of it

so hear me, you be my witness ~
i’m committing here and now
to wear my grand-mother’s ring
(the most beautiful woman in the world)
to remind me beauty is in the heart

we should remember always
that kindness is what’s beautiful
and keep that earwig in our ear



AP: 2nd place 2025

ageconfidenceironyjudgementpeoplefree verse

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sara Etgen-Baker

August 2, 2025 at 4:10 AM

some folks are proned to self criticism--I was guilty of doing so once upon a time. Then I realized my soul was far my beautiful and enduring than my physical body. well done

Line Gauthier

August 2, 2025 at 5:34 AM

Absolutely ~ and I have no problem seeing it in other people... waiting for wisdom to hit me in the head.

Bill Baker

August 1, 2025 at 6:15 PM

The truth comes spewing out of this fine poem. "Never judge a book by the cover", and surely, it's truer of a person. The outside shows the world the images of the wrong decisions we've made throughout our lives. The inside is all our Creator sees, our authentic self. Blessings, my friend. Bill

Line Gauthier

August 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM

Words to live by. Thanks, Bill ~