Untitled

I have spent too long
Hating what I am
Because of you

You tell me that I am too fat or too thin
That my thighs are to large
That my breasts are too small

You tell me that my lips are not full enough
My nose not pointed enough
My cheekbones not sharp enough

You tell me that there are hairs on my legs
Stretch marks on my stomach
And scars on my wrists

You tell me that these things mean
That I am not beautiful

And for too long
I have believed you
I have believed that I am not beautiful

But no longer

Because I am beautiful.

My body is strong and tough
My thighs built for running
My breasts made to nurture my future children

My lips are used to taste ice and fog
My nose to smell wind and rain
My cheeks to feel the warmth of the sun

The hair on my body is the hair I was born with
My stretch marks are patterns that decorate my skin
And my scars show my strength and my courage

I am what I am
Exactly what I should be
And exactly who I want to be

So you may tell me
That I am not beautiful

But don’t you dare
Don’t you even consider
Trying to make me believe it myself