Poetry: Un(pretty)
by Erin Yoo
Un(pretty)
by Erin Yoo
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i. rotund visages
Billowing bone structure wavers in the distant vista,
As relentless fingers gnaw away at the flesh & bone
(even though i was born like that).
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ii. double-eyelids
Monolid windows to the soul peer out from the recesses
Of social media isolation
(the feeling of inadequacy is peripherally there).
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iii. hourglass
An inhumane hourglass of deluging sand rushes over my head –
My eyes lay prostrate as the sand whirls over my head & my eyes’ clouded irises can no longer distinguish human physiology to human physiology – pretty to (un)pretty.
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iv. (my)self
the delicate & meticulous hand of the surgeon’s tool
the filters & photoshop
and galore …
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They blur the line between pretty & (un) pretty
Because everyone looks like manufactured dolls from the same factory
All alike in following the pigeonholing beauty standard
That’s nothing more but a subliminal set of unspoken words.
A brief note about work
This poem represents the complexities of societal beauty norms and the transformative influence of tools like filters and Photoshop on self-perception. It expresses the weight of societal expectations, focusing on physical attributes such as bone structure, eyelids, and the relentless passage of time portrayed through a metaphorical hourglass. The poem serves as a personal exploration of the struggle against conformity, delving into the internal conflict of self-acceptance and questioning the authenticity of beauty standards. It aims to provoke contemplation on the consequences of adhering to societal norms and advocates for embracing one's unique identity amid external pressures, challenging the superficiality of contemporary beauty ideals influenced by technology
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About the author
Erin is the Editor in Chief & Founder of THE COTERIE. Erin's work has been recognized by several prestigious awards, including the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards, the National High School Poetry Contest Topical Winner, the Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition, the Illustrated Poem Contest in the Southwest Georgia Section of the American Chemistry Society (ACS), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay & Poetry Program, and the Essays on Technology Event organized by the Technology Student Association (TSA) State Conference. Her recent poems have been published in Teen Ink Magazine. I serve as a Junior Board Member and Senior Editor at the Polyphony Lit Magazine, as Chief Print Edition Officer, and on the Writing/Editing Team in The Scientific Teen Magazine.