Beauty

What do you see when you look at me?

when you value me based on societal concepts?

Do you see the way my eyes light up?

when I giggle and laugh over the stupidest things?

Or do you only see the fine lines radiating from my eyes;

the brackets from smiling around my mouth?

Would you care to know how long it took;

for me to stop covering my mouth when I laughed or smiled?

Did you see me in the dressing room, trying to find the right clothes?

the ones that I like, that I have chosen because they fit my form?

Are you aware of how long it took;

for me to look in the mirror and be proud?

I never was a Beauty Queen

I never won that award.

I flaunted my figure and used my wiles

so society would think I fit the norm.

It took me a long long time,

to be able to look in the mirror and see me

Beautiful and confident, in my own way

which is the one that society does deny.

©Jay-lyn Doerksen

May 1/17