All my life
I've seen girls and woman
Told to hate their own faces
Refusing to go outside
Without a face painted to perfection
Eighth grade -
Girl with blonde hair
Doesn't believe me when I say she's beautiful
When she lets me in
Her house
Wrapped in a blanket
Canvas blank
She nervously lets me stay
Two years after college -
Girl with brown hair
Doesn't believe me when I say she's beautiful
When she asks me how she looks best
And I say "without makeup"
She stares and says
No when do I look most beautiful
She nervously laughs

All my life
I've seen boys and men
Told to hate their own faces
Nose down ninety-five percent of the day
Eyes can't meet others
Freshman year of highschool -
Young boys face spotted with change
Ashamed without confidence
Feeling too small
Too insignificant
Lacking perfection
Ten years later -
A man with short brown hair
Eyes feeling too sunk in
Face not sharp enough
Cheeks hollow
Body twisted made to feel ugly
Almost letting go