Rage Against An Anorexic Society
by: Beth

A sinister smile stares at me
from the semi-gloss pages of a magazine.
She proudly declares, "I see my ribs.
That makes me beautiful."

And I believe her, I soak it all in,
the meaningless truth in her words,
Soak it deep into my soul
with countless other persuasions.

So sick of wanting, too tired of wishing
to be skin and bones.
I hate conforming my God-given body
into what society wants to see.

Yet I starve myself instead of my addiction.
I'm addicted to a notion
Of a tall, slender vision I can't be,
My one and only impossible dream.

I want to learn to love myself,
break away from the nothingness I've become.
For who wants one more empty skeleton
when beauty lies within.

©2002 Beth. Reprinted with Permission.