She doesn't fit your definitions of 'pretty',

She defies the norms, 

She speaks her mind, 

She doesn't await your approval.

No, not a cascade of hair down her back. 

No, not fair complexion. 

No, not cherry lips.

No, not a saccharine mouth.

No, not an hour-glass figure.

For her scars, for her pain,

For her growth, for her change,

For her vulnerabilities, for her doubts,

For her failures, for her success,

For her smiles, for her sniffles,

For her sweat, for her fatigue.

For her flaws, for her shortcomings.

Through the stares, through the criticism, 

Through her bondage, through her freedom,

Through her longings, through her fulfillment,

Through the hate, through the love. 

She is beautiful!

 

It had been quite sometime, I was feeling too much stuck in the mundane of college life. Daily assignments, tests and no time for the self. I had reached a point where I found joy in nothing. Off-late, a strange kind of longing encapsulated me, no group of friends, no jokes, no social media drew my interest. I found myself just too busy the whole day, and in the end of the day, too tired to think beyond the stereotypical source of entertainment: social media....but then scrolling through these only left me feeling more dumb and bored. Then I finally decided...this was it. I needed a break. 

I couldn't keep saying myself that I don't have time. I just had to 'make' time for the right things. I at once realized that it is painting that I can find true solace in and what could put an end to this undefined longing in me. My phone was just a killer of time and only made me feel worse. I put my phone in flight-mode and found the break I was craving for in the blend of my acrylics and the strokes of my brush. 

This is what I did...nothing much, neither did it take much time...twenty minutes may be...but it washed off the weariness of mine, gathered over many-a hectic weeks....