"I Am Pretty"

When I was just a baby,

I looked a little like my father,

And a little like my mother,

But not yet like myself.

As a child I then grew,

And features began to show,

As I looked like only me

And I was a little pretty.

Then I went thru an ugly stage;

All legs and knobby knees,

As any child does

During that awkward age.

When I reached my teenage years,

The shy phase began,

And I understated myself,

So no one would see my ugly self.

Years later as an adult,

I finally reached a stage

Of beauty only some could see,

But none ever told me truly.

Then I had a portrait taken;

Which turned out really great.

The photographer said it was beautiful

And I admit he told the truth.

Others marveled at the picture

So I had it framed.

I gaze upon it from time to time

To remind myself that I am not ugly.

As an old woman now,

I've grown sort of ugly again;

All flabby and wrinkled,

That makes my body sag.

I do wonder why back then,

That not one of my family

Told me that I was pretty,

Nor even gave me courage to be me.

I cannot remember if even then

I heard that pretty was a word.

Certainly the word beautiful

Was never mentioned to me.

In my old age,

I've come to realize,

That it does not matter

What other people think.

I know God made me,

And that's all that counts.

In His eyes I am beautiful

Even in my old saggy self.

So I don't let people abuse me

By looking at me sideways.

For I know in my heart I am pretty,

Even if they don't.

by Jann Newland

©March 2011