Perfection Underneath Imperfections | Teen Ink

Perfection Underneath Imperfections

September 15, 2017
By alyssa0401 PLATINUM, Staten Island, New York
alyssa0401 PLATINUM, Staten Island, New York
39 articles 0 photos 19 comments

Favorite Quote:
"In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take."


Perfection-

Flawless, not a fault in sight.

A word reserved only for those

With a mask as a face.

Straightened hair,

Make-up covering every square inch,

Skinny, petite body.

An enemy of many teenaged girls.

It always seems to get the best of them.

Those who cannot reach its prestigious standards

Will suffer.

While those who hide their true selves

Will flourish

And reach the top

Without a scratch.

 

Underneath-

A second layer

Just below the surface,

Concealed by a power

That wishes to be viewed as superior.

Most cannot see what lies

Underneath it all;

For it is trapped by the body,

The body of lies,

The artificial, shielded body.

When the skin on the outside

Fails to be soft and smooth

Like an angel's,

The beauty on the inside

Tries to shine through.

Unfortunately, society warns us

That this may fail.

 

Imperfections-

Faulty, blemished, undesired features.

Scratches, bumps,

Bruises and grooves.

Creeping up on you

Like a shadow in the dark.

Mocking your weaknesses.

Pervading the surface.

Stomping on it,

And planting these mistakes.

But what if

Society saw these as unique,

Beautiful,

Things that make us ourselves?

If we wore these imperfections with confidence

And showcased to the world

Crooked toothed smiles,

Chipped fingernails,

Pimply faces,

And birthmarks,

Oh, how different a world it would be.

The shattered mirror of individuality,

Now only a reflection of deception,

Could finally be restored.

The pieces glued together

In an imperfect manner,

Yet beautiful just the same.


The author's comments:

I was inspired to write this piece by an assignment on constructing a three-word poem given by my English teacher. In the world around me, I have noticed that judgements are based on appearances rather than the beauty that lies deep within. Therefore, I created a poem about this social issue, and I believe it accurately captures how imperfections make us unique. I hope this poem evokes strong emotions from readers and helps them question why society is the way it is. I also want it to give them self-confidence and strength to stand up, make a change, and above all, contribute to making the world a better place.


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This article has 1 comment.


on Oct. 7 2017 at 11:49 pm
pancakebears GOLD, Staten Island, New York
14 articles 0 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"'You're the one who says books have to be heavy because the whole world's inside them.'" — Inkheart

This is perfection