Girls

Girls

I saw a rose today
And told her she was beautiful,
For there she was
Showing every perfect petal…
But she didn’t even thank me –
What a bitch! –
Or deny it: she must think
She’s really fit.

Oh, rose, you might be rather pretty
In your way, but don’t you know?
After a compliment there’s only
One thing you can say:
‘Oh no, oh really, don’t be so silly –
You are so much better than me,’
For it doesn’t matter that you’re
Born into a beautiful body,
And that this is not your responsibility –
If someone says a nice thing,
do not agree but answer, ‘no!
Goodness, no! Not me!’

It’s very clear, you see, that
We don’t desire you to love yourself,
Or think you should have confidence –
We would prefer that you stayed on the shelf,
And only when you’re old, and it’s decided
That you’re ugly, can you lament
On your lost beauty, regretful
Purely in the past tense.