I have a friend so clear

Under the scrutiny of their eyes

I seem to want to change how I appear

Why is that?

They never fail to point out my fears

Fears of imperfection and insecurities

​That overpopulate my soul like people in cities

They expose what others fail to see

And shame the person who I am trying to be

Oh how they plead, "Why are you doing this to me?" 

"Because," I say, "I am in need!" 

I need to have the blow dryers and flat irons and hot combs

To straighten out the kinks in my hair

I need to have the glues and polishes

So that my nails won't go bare

I need to have the powders and creams 

​ In order for my skin not to spot

In need the spanx and the body boostie-aids

To ensure that my butt doesn't look like the bottom of a pot

"But why," they plead,

"You are only creating a tide of madness so you can hide from a life of sadness"

"Oh really, so who do you see, I demand you tell me!"

"A creation of God's Hand, sprouting like a tree, so young and so free"

"How would you know? You don't know my heart."

"Yes, but I see your soul"

"If so, then why do you continue to expose my flaws?"

"So that you will learn to embrace them instead of ripping them out with claws"

"If I am truly beautiful as you say, then block the negativity that is in my way"

"Only you are capable of that"

"Oh Mirror, Mirror, how you lie?"

"No, I only expose what you hide"