A Good Little Girls Zine

Three Words

“You got fat,” he said.
You got fat, grandpa,” I say
but I know it’s not true,
he’s not fat

am I?

When was the last time he saw me?
What do I weigh?
Is it what I’m wearing?
I know I look different now than
even three years ago,
I am aging, it seems gentle most days,
but now I wonder, if I’m lying to myself.

One sentence; three words
and I’m in a tailspin
grinding my self-esteem to a pulp
pureeing my confidence

It’s that easy some days.
I may respond with humor,
I may show you my whit and laugh it off,

Inside, however, I fume–
angry at him, but more than that
angry at myself for letting him, you,
and your careless words penetrate my armor.

Picture of Sonia Chintha

Sonia Chintha

Sonia Chintha is an Indian American writer who lives in the Washington DC area. She blogs, writes poetry, and fiction. She is also an English teacher who believes that our experiences teach us more than any test. She is the founder and co-editor of Good Little Girls.

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