Am I Not Beautiful Poem by Loree Adams

Am I not beautiful?
Does my face not make you weep?
Am I such a disgrace to perfection?
That you refuse to see me?

Am I not beautiful?
When I glide down the stairs do you not turn and look?
Is my chest not to your liking?
Do you not envision me in your fantasies?

Am I not beautiful?
Do you prefer I cover up?
Is my body so ugly and large
That you cannot bear to touch me?

Am I not beautiful?
Is this not what you had in mind?
I have starved and sweated, submitted and subdued
I have been cut open and resealed, redecorated and reshaped

Am I not beautiful?
Do you not remember your words?
The years you joked and poked at me
Now look what I have become for you

My beauty has no meaning but the labels that came with them
The body is plastic and fake
The face is painted and covered
And the mind is programmed for your command

Is this not what you wanted?
Is this not what you request?
You said you wouldn't like me
Because I didn't look my best