Ugly Girl Poem by Marea Johnson

Paint my lips
a ruby red
Curl the hair
upon my head.

Put some rouge
to look sun-kissed
Spray perfume
inside my wrists.

Put on the finest
china silk dress
With patent leather heels
sure to impress.

Then I look in the mirror
I know doesn't lie
And it cruelly reminds me
why I can't go outside.

My lips look so ugly
my hair is a mess
The rouge on my cheeks
looks ridiculous.

The perfume is cheap
the dress is a sight
The shoes that I found
are two sizes too tight.

I rub off the lipstick
of deep ruby red
And brush out the curls
atop my big head.

I put on my slippers
and old gown of wool
How could I have ever
been such a fool?

To think for one moment
I'd fit in somewhere
When the hideous truth is -
I don't belong anywhere.