The Frowning Girl in the Mirror

2024 7th & 8th Grade Poetry Honorable Mention

I looked at the frowning girl
I was disappointed in this girl for letting herself get this
ugly
the truth was that she refused to acknowledge
that she became ugly from the
doubt and
blame
she had put on herself
the girl would try to smile
but her attempt would be squashed
with the realization that
when she smiled she looked
fake
so she would begin to collapse on the inside
her outsides would crumble
until there was nothing left
but a pile of
despair and
regret and
pain
but somewhere in that pile was relief that
at least she still cared
the frowning girl would pick herself up
she would stand tall putting on a mask on me
she had carved it to perfection many years ago
but the mask was slowly falling apart
I refused to acknowledge this as I found comfort in wearing it
and with my mask on I stood tall
and I stepped away from the mirror