The voice inside her head
With its feigned familiarity
Sabotaging the real, the true
Intent on providing a constant
Reminder to quiet thoughts
Of the girl that is not valued
The woman who will never
Measure up, standards
Patterned long ago with
Scissors sharp wielded
In thoughtless attempts
To hem her into another’s
Dressed up expectations
The creation once appealing
Now her ugly undoing
Hushing does not silence
The voice, the message
Only in steady dedication
Stitch by careful stitch
Alterations made to muted
Self expression no longer
Muffled to silence under
Layers of guilt and shame