They say when a woman is loved properly
she becomes twenty times the woman
she was before.

So now I shall begin to love myself properly.

I will lift myself when I have fallen.
I will speak kind and loving words to me
when I am down.
I will pet my own face         
and stroke my own skin
when I need comforting.
I will listen with intent to hear
when I have something to say.

I will not ignore me.

Perhaps one day
if you’re interested
I’ll let you try.


But first I must uncover
the one I feel you seeing      
when you look at me.

I’ve been buried a long time.