I Hate Myself in Photos

 

I hate myself in photos, I’m sure that can’t be me

That’s not how I see myself, not who I want to be

I don’t recognise that woman, that’s not who I am inside

I know they say it never does but the camera must have lied

 

When I see a camera pointing, I pull a silly grin

Which creases up my eyes and highlights my double chin

I think I feel self conscious - how to strike the perfect pose?

I never quite worked out which angle minimised my nose

 

I somehow never mastered how to pull the perfect pout

I guess my lips need plumping and the cracks need ironing out

 

Should I tilt my head coquettishly?

Should I point my chin up high?

Should I thrust my hips forward?

Should I breathe a sultry sigh?

 

Should I stand slightly at an angle?

Should I elongate my neck?

No, I can’t be bothered

I’m just going to accept

 

I’m not a supermodel - truer word was never said

No-one’s ever paid me just to get out of my bed!

So I’m going to try harder o be less critical

Try hard to love myself with all my warts and all

 

Embrace my ageing features, try not to be so vain

Let’s face it, I’m younger now than I’ll ever be again

Now I come to think of it when I see old photographs today

Ones I know I hated then - I think I looked okay

 

So maybe all I need to do with photos that I hate

Is refuse to see them straight away, be patient, just wait

Cast forward forty years or so, I’ll think that I look great

I’ll think I’m young and gorgeous now

- if I get to 98!

 

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Photogenics was published in the June 2024 issue of Lighten Up Online (issue 66)