People on the airwaves always preach

who I should be

How to dress,

how to talk, maybe how to breathe

We could always use their limber fingers to

paint pictures on what young girls

should aspire to be

We are not Beautiful

unless we look like women in magazines

I have

no power without a man standing

next to me

Can someone tell me if this

is all an illusion or if this is how

the world is turning out to be?

It’s the 21st century

Yonaidi Rosario

Age 13, Grade 8

Broughal Middle School

Bethlehem Area School District