Perfection
​By: ​Sarah Olson

Poetry

I thought I used to know what perfection was,
I once thought it was the razor I held in my hand,
​But now I know it was demons baring their teeth between their jaws,

I thought it was the gauze,
To wipe up the blood that got on my hands,
I thought I used to know what perfection was,

I thought I had to destroy all my flaws,
How I skipped meals till I could see the bones in my hands,
But now I know it was demons baring their teeth between their jaws,

I saw myself improving because,
My thighs would no longer touch when I would stand,
I thought I used to know what perfection was,

I got to the point when I couldn’t even keep down applesauce,
I thought everything was going as planned,
But now I know it was demons baring their teeth between their jaws,

I only knew my I was wrong when my mother saw,
And taught me to love myself with a loving reprimand,
I thought I used to know what perfection was,
​But now I know it was demons baring their teeth between their jaws.

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Editor Emma Bloom commented on this piece, saying, "This is a very powerful piece, and while the content is heavy, it is written very well."

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