Lotus

You are the most beautiful

flower, but you don’t believe it

because your petals

are often plucked,

by everyone,

envious of your beauty,

wanting to drag you down

underneath the murky waters.

Hypocrites,

they pick away the pieces

that you once thought

were most beautiful,

not because they want to improve you,

but because they don’t want

you to have them all

to yourself.

When the skies

were filled with darkness,

you began to sink to the bottom,

because what else are you supposed to think

when everyone tears you apart,

telling you how to be more beautiful,

when what you need

to realize is that

the most beautiful

version of yourself

you can be

is the image staring back at you

when you look in a mirror.

But like a warrior,

you rise,

not letting the weight of everyone

else's critiques hold you down,

trying to drown you.

You made it out alive.

When the skies were filled with sunlight,

you rose from the muddy waters,

brighter than ever,

and despite those who said

you would never do it,

you bloomed;

Showing the world

Your true beauty.