Human Eye

By Zarria Clark, 14

Viewed from the human eye I am unpolluted air difficult to breathe in.
Concealing myself away like camouflaging a black eye,
I still stand out, yet I don’t understand why.

Maybe it’s because of the lumpy sunken scar on my right cheek,
or the thickness of my slightly colored sandy red hair that could soak up muddy alkaline creeks.

Craving invisibility to drift away from society,
I know hiding isn’t the cure to my undiagnosed social anxiety.
Underappreciating my thick wide nose, my imperfect teeth and chubby face,
I should just accept who I am and learn how to embrace.

It’s not easy, I promise, I always try.
In front of a mirror, picking myself apart I decide to cry-

And still there I am, unpolluted air difficult to breathe in.
Concealing myself away like camouflaging a black eye, 

I still stand out.
Yet I don’t understand,
why.

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The purpose of this poem was to share my experience with low self-esteem. In life we may face anything, and there is no telling what obstacle you might face next. No matter the circumstances, do not beat yourself up, and do not choose to be that person who stands in front of a mirror picking themselves apart.

Instagram: @zarrialashayy