‘Imperfect’: Poem by Shritika Ugale, Apeejay School, Nerul

Class: IX- C

I hate my reflection, my imperfect face
Every feature, every flaw, a constant, nagging pace
I notice every detail, every misplaced hair
Magnifying glass, thats always there
I slouch, I stumble, I trip over my words
My hands, they tremble, my voice, it’s blurred
A puzzle, having missing pieces, a fragmented mind
A fractured soul, that’s hard to find
Glasses, a disguise just to hide my face
Braces, a distraction from this imperfect place
I tried to conceal, to cover up, to hide
But those scars, they still lingered, deep inside
I yearn for comfort, for a sense of peace
To be myself, without the constant release
Of anxiety, of fear, of doubt and shame
& because even with my parents, I feel like I am to blame
Felt like an outcast, a misfit, a stranger in my skin
I’m a ghost, invisible, lost, and locked within
In search for a place, where I can finally be me
But it’s hard to find, when you’re lost in misery
Their compliments, a pity, a sympathetic tone
A patronizing smile, making me feel like I’m not my own
I search for genuine words, but they’re never easy to find
A reflection of my worth, which is forever left behind
The words of my own family, they keep echoing in my mind
Like a constant reminder, of the shame I left behind
Though they don’t dare say it now, the scars do remain
Will I ever truly feel perfect again?

Poem by Shritika Ugale

Class 9 C

Apeejay School, Nerul