when i looked in the mirror, i'd see a little sprite
so young and full of light
that shines underneath my skin -
no problems, no qualms about my skin,
especially when i was alone in it.
it wasn't until i saw too much
of the world my mom had protected me from,
that a new guest arrived one day -
made faces at me, tried to get me to play.
when that didn't work, she pulled it away; my attention, that is, from the sun behind my eyes
down to the skin running down my sides.
"used to be lovely, but now take a look,
the spots on your shell, the shape of your back,
your face too, and your hair's much too long for that;
but I guess that's right, 'cause look at you now.
you're too tall and as thin as a stick,
I bet you are, as they say, anorexic.
but what more could we expect
from someone like you?"
right then and there something else was born.
every time i looked in the mirror, there she stood -
laughing and taunting my figure as i stood,
wondering if i could keep her imprisoned there instead
of me being here
and having her in my head.
