The Thirty First Poem- Scarring Ridicule

Scarring Ridicule

This feeling of shame,

Of feeling exposed and blamed,

It haunts me, day and night,

I no more know what’s wrong or right.

I did it out of confidence,

But they compared it to a reference,

Saying, “This pictures you in this way,

So fix this, ’cause you have no other way.”

My feelings are not considered,

I feel my freedom of expression hindered.

They are making me paint myself differently,

Did I give them power over me indefinitely?

We are in the modern world,

Empowering ourselves to be bold.

And there is a way to communicate,

Dragging someone down has never proved effective to date.

Be intentional in making people feel loved,

Even if you think their ways are flawed.

Because you love them for who they are,

Your ridicule of them should not cause a scar.

They say time will heal anything,

I say a loved one’s words are what truly bring

The feeling of acceptance and comfort,

And the knowledge that you will never judge them, no matter what.

- Jaanvi Veluguleti