Poetry

Weighing the Numbers

She looks at her reflection,
scared of what she will see.
Sad blue eyes look back,
worn down from months of malnourishment.
Her skin is dry, pale,
cheekbones more prominent.
Pimples peek out at the
corners of her chapped, frowning mouth,
from the friction of fingers on skin.
Her gaze lowers to scrutinize
every inch of naked body.
She sees cellulite, fat jiggly arms and
legs too close together
when she stands with her feet side by side.
Stepping onto the scale
she tenses every muscle
in hopes it will make her lighter.
She closes her eyes,
fearful of what the numbers will be.
She opens them to see 104 and
her heart drops--
two pounds heavier than the afternoon.
Stepping off the scale, she slowly puts
her clothes on, and hangs her head
in shame.
There will be no piece of chocolate,
only a few small bites of dinner,
as she believes the scale does not lie.

3/19/03