They say to love yourself
to love every freckle on your skin and
every curl in your hair and
every little detail that makes you an individual
that makes you
you.
They say to be proud of your accomplishments
to hold up that trophy or that medal or that diploma and
ask for respect in the workforce and
reach for the stars your whole life.
But we’ve been left with empty hands
and empty pockets.
They tell you to love yourself
but then in the next breath they
tear you down telling you that you aren’t
right
and that everything you love about yourself is
wrong.
They tell you to be proud of your achievements
to demand to be paid fairly and
to speak your voice and
make a change
but it’s their change, not yours and they
don’t like if you have opinions that are different and
that you won’t follow blindly into their lie
and then they’ll throw you out the door without a second glance
unless you’re useful in just the right way
and erase every little detail that makes you an individual
that makes you
you
until you aren’t.