Striped

c. Feb 2015

Much like that of Camilla Cream,

The lima bean fiend,

she too has stripes.

She too has let others judgment

Keep her from herself.

She too has worried herself into sickness,

Only to be visited by a friendly face

Who never fails to give her exactly what she needs.

She too has tried to hide herself from her peers.

But where Camilla’s stripes are visible to every eye,

Hers are not.

They are artfully hidden under sleeves,

Covered by shear blouses or high waisted jeans,

And masked under her signature lotion with bronzer that she says

Blankets her “embarrassingly ashy skin”

But hides so much more than that.

She lives in fear of criticism,

Because, as much as “no offense” might make you feel better,

She’s normally offended.

Most people are normally offended.

She hides her passions and her drive

Because she’s afraid of rejection,

Especially from what she loves the most.

She hides herself,

The most beautiful, wonderful her that she could ever be,

Because she lets those around her decide

Who she is.

She lives an unfair life.

A life that could be so much more,

That could be so free and careless

But is instead filled with constant doubt and desire to just stay below the radar.

She is scared.

But she is fighting.

She is counting down the days until she leaves for college

And doesn’t have to pretend to be someone else anymore.

She is dreaming of the life that she will live

And the job that she will struggle to keep

But will always find a way to make ends meet.

She is planning for a future that others tried mercilessly to deprive her of

But she refuses to let them drag her down that deep.

She is a dying breed,

Hunted by those who are jealous of her natural beauty

And her pure passions,

But she refuses to be poached and skinned of her treasures.

She is scarred from her constant battles,

She was tired and wanted it all to end,

She was broken in every aspect but she mended herself and stands taller

Than anyone would ever know

But I know

Her stripes are those of a tiger,

Proving her strength, independence, and pure will to fight.         

She refuses to go extinct and will pounce on anyone that tries to convince her otherwise,

She is a dying breed,

And she will not give in anymore.