Looking in the mirror,
Looking at yourself, sighing,
Say “she’s more broken
Than the others you see
walking down the street.”
Maybe you won’t say so
When you see their faces
Washed out and pale,
Behind the painted concrete
Cracks do start to break.
So don’t stuff your thin arms,
Flaunt that well in your cheek,
Be proud of the black marks,
By the edge of your lips
Cuz you know that you’re loved.
Just let go and smile more -
Take a step to the front
To the light from the shadow -
Make them redo all the charts,
Make them just see who you are.
Teenagers just love baggy clothes
It covers secrets we don't want people to know
Secrets of our bodies that we despise
That plague our minds each day and night.
When we look in the mirror each time we wake
Our heart is filled with so much hate
Asking questions like 'How come I haven't lost weight' or 'look how thinner I am today'
Damn it why do we always want the body that other people hate?
But baggy clothes provide an escape
A way to hide our forms and curves.
With it, nobody notices the extra added weight
Or what was lost before that day
Baggy clothing provides a rest
For teenagers who hate exposing what they think is not the best
To wrap us around and dispel our loathing
For what can't be hidden in tight clothing.
When it’s a choice they blame a disease,
then are annoyed upset so they eat,
subliminal messaging, society,
they see a pie they eat what they see
you are what you eat and it’s clear to me
the last meal you ate was a big ugly fatty
You sit eat get lazy and sleep
wake up and do the same on repeat
nobodies preference you know rejection
it’s not a choice but natural selection
blame being single on discrimination
not through attraction as you have none
You’re going to die young you’re gonna be sick
you’ll never admit you’re a food addict
who hasn’t the discipline to be healthy or fit
if you want positivity then go and earn it.
My Perfect Me
5”3. 134 lbs. Slim. Blue eyes. Long healthy blonde hai-
This doesn’t feel right. While I am unhappy with myself and I do wish that I had all of those qualities, this poem would completely contradict my last. My last poem was about body positivity and empowerment while this one started off being about all the things I wish I could change about my body. My last poem stated that you have one body and you should love it and “fat” is only a descriptive word. So, let me try this again:
My Perfect Me: Revised
5”5. 210 lbs. Fat. Brown eyes. Short, unhealthy, untamed blonde hair.
And most importantly: beautiful.
-Maddie MacLeish
This poem has already been posted on Poetry Soup. Here is the link:
http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_body_shame_game_768282
It has 2,433 views, so I guess it's an issue that is important these days. You will understand my feelings about this issue once you see the video. Body positivity is something I am very committed to and outspoken about.
Hope you enjoy it.
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