Hidden Shame

The eyes shift downward

Her head drops in shame

Too many years she’s been called ugly names

Boney, skinny, string bean, too tall in height

High yellow, light bright and damn near white

They yank her pigtails shouting good hair

Ignore her on the playground as if she’s not there

Flat chested with toothpick legs they say

Sometimes telling her she cannot play

The mirror indicates to her that it's true

There's no one to tell her you just be you

Now in adulthood weight has been gained

But childhood memories remain the same

Sometimes still her reflection has cast down eyes

Indicating the hidden pain she still carries inside