Pale
people shudder without a fail
Since when did tan
become wanted by every man?
when everyone is knowing
the risks, girls keep going
the risks, aren’t risky
because it’ll never be me
until I get melanoma at 40
I have been shamed all my life
because my skin is too “white”
pasty ain’t tasty
they all keep telling me
making me insecure every summer
I should be ashamed of my legs
since they aren’t the right shade
always being told I’m not as pretty
because I’m not as tan or skinny
girls always telling me
they don’t know how they could be me
fueling hundreds of dollars in this sick industry
I should sit under a bed of bulbs
take pictures, post it online so everyone knows
that I’m going to be tan as sand
no longer pale
because to be pale is to fail.