I am no barbie doll

I learnt in class two
Then learning shapes was fun
Square, round, tall, small
Oh, that shape of a drum

Some teased me later
Putting label on my frame
Round, small, short, tiny
I nearly died of shame

I wept looking at the mirror
And my mother would pacify
Dream Big, Act Big
Over shape you should never cry

I was no barbie doll
Same as most of you
No prince ever searched for me
With a missing shoe

But I am pretty
Ask my mom, dad and any of my friends
With all my imperfections
My husband wants to be with me till the end

Yet, they highlight 
Extra pounds, dark skin, short height
Like appearances is all that is
To make a woman right

I don't bother now
Neither should any women out there
I pity those who judge us
On our looks, size and what we wear

And here's a number which shuns the perfect girl image and celebrates the real us.


Comments

  1. The poem was touching and thought provoking.

    Awesome were these lines :
    "But I am pretty
    Ask my mom, dad and any of my friends
    With all my imperfections
    My husband wants to be with me till the end" True emotions. Loved it.

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  2. Well said! The pressure on girls, especially, to look a certain and unrealistic way is tremendous these days. But beauty comes from within.

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  3. The inner beauty is what can be appreciated by those who know the person and can leave the radiance for ever! Beautifully versed, Saru:)

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  4. it is getting so bad that even the MEN are being pressurised with it all

    the heart of a person is the most important rest are secondary

    Bikram's

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    Replies
    1. Really, I thought otherwise. And yes, what's inside matters the most.

      Delete
  5. Lovely poem, Saru. The people who matter in our life don't bother about shapes, and why should we bother about the others?

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    Replies
    1. Well said. I wish girls at they growing age understand that.

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  6. We should never judge a person by her/his physical attributes. The inner beauty matters much to me. Sadly, some people think the other way...I pity them really...

    Strong message and nicely penned :-)

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    Replies
    1. Yes but with craziness around I see many grown ups falling for it.

      Thanks for reading, Maniparna.

      Delete
  7. Very well said, Saru. I grew up hearing comparisons of these sort. I accepted that I'm not pretty and moved on. Pretty or not it doesn't matter when we have people in our lives who love us for who we are, right? Loved your poem. :)

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  8. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. And our beholders are family and friends - whose thoughts and feelings matter to us. Others are just part of "noise". Very well expressed Saru..

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    Replies
    1. Yup, it's all noise. Thank you for a lovely comment, Binu. :)

      Delete
  9. I was alien like skinny once, and everyone would suggest me to eat more. I started going on heavier side later on and people would comment on my chubby cheeks and bulging belly. Now I am happy, healthy and don't care what people think. Awesome poem Saru.

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  10. Beautifully written Saru :). Women are under pressure to look good in all sorts of ways all the time. In the end its more important to be a good human being and if our family loves us for that, then there's nothing more we need in our lives.

    Unfortunately physical beauty matters for a lot of people in our society even today :/.

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  11. We should respect our body and not try to be somebody else...I pity those who do...More than attaining physical shape and size, Inner beauty needs to be worked upon..
    Well put in rhyme..

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  12. Very good and meaningful poem. Congrats.

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  13. you remind me of a poem that i have read in first year college. Marriages Are Made by Eunice D'Souza, the poem tells how girls being objectified, and how they are being judged on skin, height, and not education or talent they posses. thanks for reminding back :)

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    Replies
    1. I read it just now. It's beautiful. Sadly, there are many out there who give undue importance to looks.

      Thanks for sharing the poem.

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  14. Lovely poem Saru and I love the song too.....watch it daily on MTV AM rush :)

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  15. Wonderful poem Saru! Felt happy reading you after a small gap :D

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  16. I felt good after reading this. Most of us girls, are not barbie dolls. People judge girls by their looks. This hasn't changed yet.

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  17. Smiling........ Reminds me of your tweet, "I'm Saru Singhal not Single" :)

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  18. Very beautifully composed poem Saru. The baby doll requirements are that of the Media and people are more influenced by media and so they seek it. However, its the inside of a person that makes him or her beautiful as you said in your lines "with all my imperfections".

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    Replies
    1. Yes, media is hugely responsible for feeding this image. I agree, what's inside is more important.

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  19. Well and sensitively written, Saru. Best wishes for more such!

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  20. Beautifully written. That's the spirit and that's where the beauty lies.

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  21. Beautifully written the bitter truth of our society...'Women have to look good". It feels good that women are gradually realizing their worth which is not in superficial beauty but their personality and humanity. Thank you Saru for such beautiful poem!

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    Replies
    1. I wish more young girls realize it. Thanks for reading and a lovely comment.

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  22. Well said, Saru. What more can I add? You said it all eloquently.

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  23. Saru..this one is just WOW...I just shared with my wife and she too loved it.....

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  24. Beautifully written and see we how much we think alike - I wrote this on Tuesday https://happinessandfood.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/beware-of-the-barbie-syndrome/ :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Parul and reading it just now.

      Welcome here!

      Delete
  25. I so much love you the way you are. I call it gorgeous. Dunno if gorgeous is the shape. As long as we are natural, we are good. [I am saying this cause I am outta shape but I care not much on societal view but my own forthright' BHagwan ne yeh shape dia..maine kab lalaika Arora figure ke liye mana kiya tha ;)

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    Replies
    1. Hehehe... I don't like her body type, she is too skinny. You are gorgeous, Ekta. It's rather easy to mold and change shape but we can hardly change what's inside.

      To girls - we rock! <3

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  26. The most important is 'be yourself"A talented,confident girl has the right to say to the half witted who goes for the so called beauty, "Go to hell".Loved your poem!

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    Replies
    1. I will keep that thought in mind and will pass it on. Thanks for reading, Ma'am.

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  27. There is more than what eyes can see.....I was called a road roller (fondly though) by few people and many nicknames titled by unknowns.....I wish I had learned this lesson and had an understanding of this when I was young....Sad I wasted my precious time brooding over their comments....Nice one Saru

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    Replies
    1. We all learn; some early, some late. Thanks for reading, Vidhya.

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  28. External beauty is only skin deep. Tap the surface and look at the wealth of goodness beneath. !

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  29. a very thoughtful point described in crisp and b'ful words. purity of soul makes a person b'ful. loved it Saru !

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  30. true value of women is in their qualities. Oh sorry, actually this is true for any human being. Yes we judge people by their appearance, not only women but men too. Appearance or first impression matters. Also not every dress is suitable for everyone. Many can't carry their dress and look ugly even in most beautiful dresses. people without a good dressing sense is a big put off to many including me.

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    Replies
    1. Dressing sense makes or mars your appearance. You are right, inner beauty is relevant to both the sexes.

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  31. It's a beautiful poem with a nice meaning. Thanks for sharing.

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  32. Hello Saru, I am very to say that I have nominated your lovely blog for the Very Inspiring Blog Award.

    Thank You. :)

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  33. Superb, Saru! Yes, no girl/boy needs to worry about their looks! But, definitely they need to look at and maintain their inner beauty.
    Sharing this in my FB timeline...
    TC! Keep smiling :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for a lovely comment and for sharing, Sindhu. :)

      Delete
  34. Strong message. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. This attitude is really the need of the hour.

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