I wasn’t supposed to be pretty
My flaws buried me to ugly
The girl with the awkward smile
Scruffy looking, thin hair, bag of bones
The one who was lost, finding identity
So confident in being so timid. Voice shut.
I wasn’t supposed to be beautiful
Society says my curves are ugly
My banana breasts, the men mock
and my acne is shame to behold
Some say I must be dirty
How dare me call myself beautiful?
They said I may be dumb
I needed to prove why I needed to understand
I was supposed to agree with my teachers & leaders,
to nod my head to their every opinion, form of science or religion;
in class or in church
I wasn't supposed to seek understanding
I mean, who am I to ask questions?
I wasn’t supposed to be pretty
My flaws buried me silly
Those secret habits made me ashamed
I should love what my culture loves
But secretly, I am black sheep
Stones thrown at me in my village
Did I tell you I am black sheep?
I tried but I just don’t love what they want
My mind is funny they said.
“Why do you think this way?”
“how strange can you get?”
I told you!
I wasn’t supposed to be pretty
To be whole, to own me
... with my awkwardness, weirdness, flaws & maybe quirkiness
I was supposed to let society dictate me to me
I was supposed to wait for acceptance
I was supposed to give up, to never fight for better.
I wasn’t supposed to be pretty.
But here I am, beautiful and whole.
with a mind of my own.
I am pretty ❤️
