Tabitha Sleeger

TO BE THIN
I realized I had a problem
When everyone became competition 
When counting calories and sucking in
Was religious repetition 
When an empty head and spinning room became the norm 
And with every compliment larger became my form 
I knew I had a problem 
When I skipped several meals and felt worthy
Or when I watched the world turn black without worry 
I knew I had a problem when
Ice cubes and celery sticks felt more real
On my teeth than pain
Or when I remembered that shivering burns calories
So, I didn’t mind the rain 
I think I realized I had a problem
When I started to envy shapeless men and boney children 
I’ve envied skinny kids as young a seven
And I cry
Thank God we don’t have bodies in Heaven

This is a poem about body insecurities. Sometimes they become so prevalent it becomes very hard to continue on from day to day. I hope this poem helps somebody by voicing real problems and putting words to internal struggles.