Who Decided What Beauty Is?
and isn't
Who decided what beauty is?
In the dictionary,
it is considered pleasing to the senses,
especially sight.
To me, it is when a rescued animal
curls up to you for the first time,
or the smell of rain
teasing the heat wave, or choosing
to wear my heart on my sleeve.
Who decided what beauty isn’t?
Because I have never
felt uglier than after
hearing hatred
about the image of a woman
with a sparrow’s voice
or opinions
admonishing the passion
of someone whose best friend
once told them they were enough.
Who decided what is pleasing?
Because I love
being draped in baggy, frayed
jeans and remnants of yesterday.
I bathe in mud
instead of milk.
I walk the path of could
instead of should.
Who decided we must
appear without
time’s loving impressions?
Even children
newly learning to leap,
students who forgot
how to sleep,
and aging bodies
just as terrified as the younger?
You could teach me
the“must-try”
trends for covering
my flaws,
but I will always decide
they are not.
Because what I find pleasing
is the raccoon snuggling
her kits in a rotten tree trunk.
Beauty is the first time
someone tries
to be vulnerable and is answered
with kindness.
It is knowing I can ditch the rose-tinted
lenses, if even for a moment.
There is nothing more wholesome,
pleasant, gorgeous
than a body who knows
they can simply exist.
About the Creator
Sam Eliza Green
Writer, wanderer, wild at heart. Sagas, poems, novels. Stay a while. There’s a place for you here.
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Comments (19)
This. Is. All!!! All the things that writing does to fuel the soul. Beauty is a nutrient. Pleasure and compassion are nutrients. The world is in the condition it is in because people have been starving, filling themselves with 'fake food' when just one glance at his poem would satisfy hunger. Thank you sooooo much for writing!
What a captivating poem Beautiful words !!!
Happily, subscribed, great poem deserving of top story
Beauty Is Your Poem That you shared and I just read. ❤️
"Beauty is the first time someone tries to be vulnerable and is answered with kindness." I was already saying wow, but when I came to those lines...! This is one of the very best poems I've ever read on Vocal. A wholly deserved shout-out by the team! Perhaps the secret (not that I'd ever presume to unpick a work so accomplished) is the balance struck, between examples drawn from your own experience and the common ground shared by your readership on the interpretation of beauty. To speak for myself, I'm transported to a time when my mother was still alive, and a place you've possibly never been. Everything I learned about beauty then is reaffirmed in what I read here. Many have commented the same below, and far more concisely, so please forgive my ramble! I just wanted to express that there is so much truth and humanity in your poem that it awed me. What you do here is precisely what is meant by people connecting through writing.
Nice written... Incredible! I loved it... Congratulations On the Top Story🤝...
Like all of us as individuals, you yourself have decided, for you, what constitutes 'beauty,' 'pleasant,' or the lack thereof. We all have our individual tastes. This is a lovely written piece demonstrating that fact. Fantastic work.
I enjoyed your poem!
Congratulations 🎉 🎉♥️✌️
"choosing to wear my glasses today" -- wow. There is so much in this simple line. An utterly beautiful poem. I adore your poetic mind.
This was beautifully written, great job!
Excellent. Just excellent. Congratulations!
ABSOLUTELY!!! You nailed it! I had a friend who was much more attractive that I am. However, she's also a snob and decided who she should befriend and why. I am so ready to admit that I'm 76, too many freckles, under-eye bags, and rolls of fat that will never fall off. I am me and proud of who I am. Your poem is no doubt, FANTASTIC. Thank you for allowing us to keep our own sized, personal pedestal.
Congratulations on achieving top story status!
Incredible.
This is so lovely, really resounding with my thoughts exactly. Being a laid back person, I totally understand, my mode of dress gets laughed at, but it's ok. Thanks for validation, really a great read. Beauty is what we make it.
excellent!
💯💯💯 You nailed it! 💪 Great job, seriously! 👌
This is a must read poem by everyone! I just loved this so much!