A snapshot
of a happy time
I remember smiles and laughter
But this snapshot?
Oh my God
my face
why am I making that face?
my arms
why am I slouching?
I don’t remember slouching
One time I read that others
see us in movement
love us in movement
we see ourselves in still pictures
where we focus too much
on each part
where it’s easy to criticize
each part
We would love ourselves
if we saw ourselves
in movement
like the rest of the world
like we love others
So that is what I tell myself
as I close the picture
and decide to either
hide from cameras
always
or just never look at any
snapshots
of myself
ever
again

It’s April so I am writing poetry. Today’s poem is inspired by Look Closely on EthicalELA