When I was young,

I was a caterpillar.

As caterpillars eat to grow and thrive,

I ate to grow up.

I used manners when necessary, never called rude names,

Kept a straight A student average and kept my mouth shut.

As caterpillars grow, they are seen as fat and ugly,

Despite wanting to just live in harmony.

I was a caterpillar for the fact I was called fat and ugly,

Despite not saying anything to anybody.

It is hard to picture a caterpillar as a butterfly,

It was also hard imagining myself as a butterfly.

Not once have I been able to fly.

Soon, as the years passed I did what any caterpillar would do.

I cocooned.

I began to want change.

While it may have been subconscious, I had no choice in this.

As puberty wrapped my body within its confines,

I was forced to transform.

It is still hard most days, realizing this is my face,

However, it has never been easy.

Like small children prod a cocoon, people have put me in a place,

I didn't think I would make it through.

I have found my light however, overcoming their endeavors,

I have with time finally become a butterfly.

While my wings are still young, I've yet to fly,

But I have proven others wrong.

I’ve survived.

I have grown,

I have written my own metamorphosis as I learn to love myself… alone.