The Pretty Award

Congratulations

Congratulations you are pretty!

The words conveyed

The praises they would say

It was a gift to open

because when she was plain

no one saw her anyway

She’s not sure how it conspired

the beauty she acquired

Being pretty opened doors

Being pretty kept her safe

in a world

that saw her shell

it was her special spell

They did not see

her compassion

kindness

empathy

creativity

determination

resilience

depth

No, but she was pretty.

Beauty faded

she became jaded

the awards gathered dust

the ones that showed lust

the shell decayed

the one that got in her way

“Maybe now

they will see what’s inside of me

and I will be free,” she would pray.

Or would they see an old lady

and not listen to what she has to say

anyway.