no body's perfect
I stare in the mirror,
Pinching the skin around my stomach,
Molding it into the ideal shape

I wish that I could look like her,
The girl in the magazine.
I compare our hair and teeth,
Our skin and our lips.

With every look my self-esteem vanishes.
Losing confidence, my smile soon fades.
My flaws seem endless and numbered
As I quickly fall into a state of sadness,
And put on a baggy sweatshirt,
Concealing my imperfect figure,
Letting go of my dreams and pretending I don't care.

Slowly and realistically I begin to accept
My image and identity, repeating to myself
That I am the only me and that is a good thing.
--a poem by jenny sharaf
changedfish