Distinctive face - Anila Bukhari

I was born into a family of beauty and charm,
But I was the odd one out, with a distinctive face.
My hair wasn’t long and black, but short and brown,
My skin was not fair, but a deep shade of brown.

But I never let it get to me, for I had a good heart,
I believed that beauty lies in how we play our part.
But the world is cruel, it judges by appearance,
And my siblings’ beauty only heightened my look.

They mocked and teased, made fun of my skin,
They didn’t see the pain, the hurt I was in.
I felt alone in a crowd, my heart shattered and bruised,
For being born different, I was always abused.

I tried to change, with herbal remedies in hand,
But my skin remained the same, I didn’t understand.
I hid from the world, I didn’t sit in public,
For fear of being judged, for not being like the others.

But the hardest emotion, was feeling ugly and unloved,
By my family, who couldn’t see beyond the front.
I had a good heart, but that didn’t seem to matter,
For beauty was the only thing that could make me better.

But I refuse to be defined by societal standards,
For my worth lies in more than just my appearance.
I am beautiful, with or without society’s approval,
And I will not let their hurtful words break my spirit, not at all.

So I stand tall, with my head held high,
For I am more than just the color of my skin, I will not comply.
I am the first born child, and I will claim my place,
With my unique beauty and my kind heart, I am an extraordinary grace.

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Anila Bukhari (21st century) Pakistan
Source: Kritya Poetry in Our Time, March 2024 issue