A

bird left alone 

shamed for his feathers

for his eyes for his beak.

Their gaze shaped him, it was Their gaze that shaped his own. 

Wishing to 

hide wanting to 

flee to cry to drown to forget his own image,

"he's ugly," They said.

 

he saw himself worse than they saw him.

he grew to despise and resent his body

the thing that made him him 

was destroyed by shrinking pupils 

and furrowed feathers. 

When you've never been looked at with love

how do (does) you (he) know how to (love) love?

 

A reflection in a pond

lilypad framed, by flys and dancing frogs.

He saw himself

His soft feathers

His tear stained face

His beautiful misshapen beak 

 

He grew warm and weak,

felt small in his body and

loved it

 

He was beautiful