My mother holds me swaddled and small,

She looks down at my face coated in blood and all,

This is how bleeding leads to beauty;

I take my first steps and I slip and fall,

My knee was once bleeding but now I stand tall,

This is how bleeding leads to beauty;

I sit with new friends on my first day of school,

They share secrets and whisper words that haunt me how cruel,

This is how bleeding leads to beauty;

Womanhood knocks on my door at 15,

Who knew that girlhood could be so mean,

This is how bleeding leads to beauty;

My mirror whispers her words of reflection,

While my camera tells me what parts need correction;

This is how bleeding leads to beauty;

I lay down on the table and feel the first pick,

Is this the right choice? It’s making me sick,

This is how bleeding leads to beauty.