A SMILING FAT LADY IS SAD
She suffers from a struggle
to lose weight and keep it off,
a battle with her set point—
weight she was programed to be.
She blinds herself to every
svelte slender woman
who comes into view—
forcing down bilious envy
with every mouthful of food
she shouldn’t be eating.
Men never take a second look,
even though she’s been told
she has such a pretty face
since she was a little kid.
She knows men look away
at her double chin, fat thighs
and protruding love handles.
The essence of her being
is a chasm: starving.
If she ever gets a guy in,
she’ll never let him out.