Dónall Dempsey - FAT CHANCE

I wake
into the dawn

put my skin on
but still my skeleton pokes through.

My mirror tells me
I am: “Fat too fat! ”

& I
believe it.

I have hot water
for breakfast
with a slight squeeze of lemon.

I put on my mouth
my eyes.

Still my skull grins
back at me.

I...
make up
my face.

Scrub it.

Make up another.

Each a different &
the same lie.

Stuff my face
with a Baker's Dozen
of fairy cakes.

Put on my red ribbed tights
(three pairs)

to convince myself
I'm not a stick insect.

Puke up
my guts.

Put on my too tight shoes
that newly pinch.

Tell myself
(unconvincingly)

“...it’s alright...alright..! ”

“Fat chance! ”
the mirror sneers.

Dónall Dempsey

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/fat-chance-3/