I grew up believing that
I should be seen and not heard.
I always felt like a decoration,
A wall flower,
Staring out at the sea of faces.
Speak politely and give nonexistent answers,
Smile and keep your eyes down.
I represented my parents' integrity,
So I kept my head down,
With my ribbons and curls
and was always the good little girl.
A trophy of good breeding.
But it's a lonely existence,
To sit on a shelf and collect dust.