Beauty

The worlds take on beauty

There I stood,

entranced in the mirror.

Their perception of beauty,

my imperfections, my greatest fear.

I removed my clothes,

let down my hair.

gazing at my body,

brings great despair.

The world appears in my mirror,

gorgeous women who starts to speak.

"You could be beautiful,

just a few things to tweak."

I looked at the world,

the beauty she was.

she studied my face,

then looked to my bust.

"Let's start with the basics!"

She came through the glass,

standing beside me,

"it's time at last!"

She pulled out a knife,

cutting off half my waist.

as I started to cry she shushed,

"no fat! Not one trace!"

She grabbed the excess,

and put it in my chest.

puts her hands to her hips,

winking, "I'm impressed!"

She worked down my legs,

trimming them down too.

They became so small,

Who am I now...who?

I looked at the world,

and she began to change.

not beauty like before,

but becoming strange.

She came to my face,

a smile from her lips.

"Got to shape those cheeks,

like we did your hips!"

She was smearing on makeup,

and lengthening my hair.

she had me close my eyes,

"Wait right there."

You're almost ready,"

said the world, "now you belong."

I opened my eyes,

"No," I cried, "this is wrong."

Who was I now?

My body fragile and small.

"is this me?

I didn't recognize at all.

I stood there,

the world by my side.

Bringing my hands to my face,

and beginning to cry.

I looked at the world,

we both looked fake.

but she still smiled,

admiring this mistake.

As we looked in the mirror,

we bean to grow old.

buying into the lie,

the world cleverly sold.

and I bought it,

it led to my demise.

what people don't know,

the world is the devils disguise.

As we withered away,

we began to die.

"I see the cost of beauty now,

it's an unaffordable lie."

 

Reviews

[Ghost]

Women see such a different thing when they look at themselves in a mirror.. And life and other people make judgments against the body.. I wrote a poem of my own about women it is called "Heart and Soul".. I don't think women need to listen to the outside judgment but listen to their own hearts.. There is no such thing as a flaw when that woman may just be perfect to the one who loves them.

[Courtney Hough]

I'll for sure go and read that! Thanks for the review:)

[The Twin Arenas]

A nice pairing of weird horror and message. Good write.

[Courtney Hough]

Thanks so much

[Alessander]

great social critique here about body image. I also like that it is a female as the social 'sculptor' . I often find that other women are the most cruel when it comes to that. Like I was over hearing 3 girls talking. A girl passed by, and they remarked, "Ugh, Did you see her hair? It's all dead"

As a guy, I had no clue. There's also that saying 'women buy shoes for other women, not men"

So I think the choice of the antagonist is accurate.

Also think you gave great detail

"She pulled out a knife
And cut off half my waist"

Quite violent and shocking, but ppl do much worse to themselves from starvation, to rhinoplasty and b**b jobs.

Like the biblical allusion too, how the devil is supposed to control the world (or else, how could he offer it to jesus?) - or in other terms, controls the superficial and worldly, while the inside and spiritual belong to us or the divine, but is seemingly constantly under attack by the external.

Good stuff. Reminded me of Yeat's "Adam's Curse"

'To be born woman is to know—. Although they do not talk of it at school—. That we must labour to be beautiful."

Thanks for sharing.

[Courtney Hough]

What an in depth review! Thanks so much

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Fleshly beauty is no beauty at all - the goodness of a kind loving heart retains and the flesh passes away- so sad how so many get caught up in devils grasp- when we know the truth and truly love ourselves for who we are than others can live us- wonderful words🌹

[Coyote Poetry]

Powerful, honest and true words written Courtney.
"As we withered away,
we began to die.
"I see the cost of beauty now,
it's an unaffordable lie."
The above lines. A place where most people shall learn. Beauty will fade and we must know who we are. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.

[Courtney Hough]

Thanks so much my friend!

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed your work today Courtney. You are a talented writer and you are welcome.

[Davidgeo]

There is this book called "Simulacra and Simulation" by Jean Baudrilliard that I think you would find interesting based on what I think your poem is about. It's a pain in the a*s to read but well worth the effort.

[SweeTLoU]

Its a tragedy how society and the media manipulate women into wanting to conform to the image that they sell as beauty. you're right it is a lie, beauty comes from within, physical beauty fades anyway, but the souls beauty doesn't. great piece once again very vivid imagery and powerful message. thanks!

[-]

This is something that need to be said louder. It does leave to demise as said. There something so sad when people want you for your body and not your soul. When they lust for you and not love you. This for sure a awesome poem. Love your work so real and raw. N.

[Christopher Patrick]

This was very enticing read – so much so that I may have read a little too quickly. The style is quite nice and the topic is eminently interesting – as I feel nearly everyone believes some changes in their looks would be of benefit although later these could be regretted. Plus , how beauty is valued is also an interesting subject. Particularly interesting lines are:
"buying into the lie,
the world cleverly sold."
Finally, the layout of the poem is good and flows well throughout.