love yourself first
sounds like the easiest thing to do
until you have to put it into action
and realize it’s not as easy as it looks

for how can i love that person
looking right back at me in the mirror?
with her crooked smile and sagging skin
surely there’s been some kind of error

some hashtag someone cooked up
putting more pressure on those struggling to be
comfortable in their own skin
people like me

for how can i love myself the way i am
so far removed from the person i yearn to be
can i really find it within myself like they say i can
can’t they see all the imperfections i see?

that’s when i heard a whisper,
a faint voice from deep within
yes, you can love me for me, my body said,
you’ve always been perfect underneath this skin.

for everything that you are
can’t be found only on the outside
there’s more to you than meets the eye
so love yourself first and you’ll have nothing to hide.