she was eight years old
our first day of grade three
when she got called ugly
we both got moved to the back of the class
so we would stop get bombarded by
spit balls
but the school halls were a battleground
where we found ourselves outnumbered day after wretched
day
we used to stay inside for recess
because outside was worse
outside we’d have to rehearse running away
or learn to stay still like s t a t u e s giving no clues
that we were there
in grade five they taped a sign to her desk
that read beware of dog
to this day
despite a loving husband
she doesn’t think she’s beautiful
because of a birthmark
that takes up a little less than half of her face
kids used to say she looks like a wrong answer
that someone tried to erase
but couldn’t quite get the job done
and they’ll never understand
that she’s raising two kids
whose DE•FI•NI•TION of beauty
begins with the word mom
because they see her heart
before they see her skin
that she’s only ever always been A M A Z I
N G