Young Girl's Lament Poem by Shannon Chapel

Have you noticed all the girls nowadays
Are thin as thin can be?
With bones that poke in awkward ways
From hip and rib and knee.

Their faces gaunt, black circled eyes
Their bleach blond hair unshining.
They think makeup and smiles disguise
The fact their soul is dying.

Esteem supplied by strangers
By what others say they’re worth.
Not knowing this endangers
True contentment on this Earth.

Instructed by society
They’re brainwashed from the start.
Not conforming brings anxiety
And many a broken heart.

So they do what is expected
They fast and purge and then
Feeling more connected
The cycle starts again.

Society wants them to believe
These things that in the end
Won’t mean a thing once they achieve
What others recommend.

It isn’t their appearance
And it’s not their bank accounts.
But rather their adherence
To themselves that really counts.

To yourself always be true
It is your own existence.
Your own dreams doggedly pursue
To succeed will take persistence.

But in the end when you look back
Upon on your life you’ll be
Proud and glad you stayed on track
And your conscience will be free.

(2/11/06)