Measuring Tape Poem by Glory Sasikala

You, the Queen, I, the crumb 'neath the table—
Non-existent
till you heard them exclaim I was beautiful
smart and talented.
And then you noticed, startled.

Is that when
you started measurement points
next to my natural growth points?

For each time I lost, I shrunk in your eyes
once again
to the crumb on the floor.

For each time I won
you pretended you didn't know...

Did it help ease the pain of when you felt you didn't 'measure up? '

So absorbed in your game
of measuring up and down my measurements
you forgot your own—
that you were beautiful too!
And smart and talented.
Futile traits now I guess—'cause
you are now just a Measuring Tape.

I wish I knew how to set you free of your misery—
from the price you've paid for knowing me.
And I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you
albeit unwittingly for I was only a child

Even now
I wouldn't know how to try though...'cause
I still don't know how to measure.