Beauty is (Not) Pain by Teo Kate-Lyn (19, Singapore)

beauty is pain
so don't you dare say
you are not a number to be shrunk
let it sink into your bones like religion
so when you stand trial before the mirror
your stomach is devoid of sin to spill.
know that regardless of what you eat
it's never too soon to say that's enough.
listen, rid your chest of this crushing weight--
you'll feel lighter by hollowing yourself out.
darling, only liars will claim that
this is not what it means to be beautiful.

(now read it backwards.)

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