They tell her she is talented
with special skills to spare
they say she’s got a winning smile
and sunbeams in her hair
She would end her skill today
and suffer every defeat
she would cut off all her hair
if she could just be sweet
They tell her that she’s popular
that she could win a crowd
they say she fills the room with cheer
her friends all laugh aloud
She would be shy as a mouse
quiet and discrete
she’d give up all of her fake friends
if she could just be sweet
They say she wears the greatest clothes
she has the greatest style
they say she has a pretty face
the boys would chase for miles
She would empty her whole closet
throw her clothes out in the street
she would wear an ugly mask
if she could just be sweet
They say she dances with such grace
she sings in perfect tune
her elegance is unrivaled
she makes the whole room swoon
She would trip upon herself
and sound like an old goat’s bleat
she would lose her every limb
if she could just be sweet
So many things they call her
talented, beautiful, witty,
if she could not merely be sweet
then what’s the point of pretty?
The compliments she gets
from everyone she meets
all of them are true and nice,
but none of them are “sweet.”