The Supermodels

See we’re all supposed to want to be models aren’t we

but for me I’m not so sure…

but sometimes, I mean maybe…

see what good are they really

for me, I’m not so sure,

what good 

what good can they be

held to spotlight, after spotlight, after spotlight, a flood of spotlights, even when they’re not wanted, even when they don’t fit, even when the mold’s just, just not right,  

these are the models, it’s where the flood is, these are the models, this is the spotlight, this is, this is kind of it.

See the models who look like me in stories get to be princesses

be rescued by the prince when they need it

doesn’t everybody need to be rescued sometimes

get to be princesses

rescued by the prince 

have to be princesses

rescued by the prince 

get to be princesses

rescued by the prince 

get to or have to not so sure

the models who look like me get to be spicy passionate, hard working, of service, other, loyal, what, so brave, what such a saint, and get to be out of their nation, out of their world, to not quite belong here, 

always trying to stay out of trouble

the models who look like me get to be, the wise struggle, the inspiring struggle, the struggle struggle, the helpless struggle, and by the way, did I mention the struggle, soldier on, save on, rescue on, live on, hold down the fort, fight the good fight, overcome, or even better don’t overcome, and carry it on, dole out advice, having struggled, get it low, or remember to get real high, or keep it high, entertaining, smile, smile, smile, then smile, smile, smile, smile, some more, pious, and either way, not just a human, not just a human, not just a person, for the models like me, love doesn’t get to survive, in you, or with you, or with where you’re from because everybody just knows, no one has to talk about what was done, except those it was done to, it’s their story, isn’t it, to carry on.

the models who look like me make no mistakes, docile yet dominant, perfect perfect perfect, small everything, no mistakes, marry right, head down, work up, must be the most accomplished and hard working, but not the most outspoken, expected somehow I am supposed be perfect, perfect, perfect, have small everything, including small voice, big, big, big, accomplishment, small voice, expectations that shouldn’t feel strange to you or strange to me

the models who look like me get to be perfect make no mistakes

have to be perfect make no mistakes

get to be perfect make no mistakes

get to or have to not so sure.

the models who look like me get to be perfect make no mistakes

have to be perfect make no mistakes

get to be perfect make no mistakes

get to or have to not so sure.

each one of these gives a photo, a moment, a body, a face, an image of what I would of course have to look like for that to be true

the model who looks like me, who she has to be

models they tell me I’m beautiful or not, or beautiful and how 

tell me I’m smart or not, or smart or how 

made to be free, or maybe not, or made to be free and how 

made to live, and love, and move, in joy, then, well then, how

tell me I’m here or me, and how

what you can see, have to see, get to see, when you look at me, and how

they tell us everything

the models

the roles to fold into

and fold and mold to each other

and how

models tell us they are the mirror

the models

models tell us everything

and how

and how to be who we are

the models they tell us everything…

other’s models

visible models

invisible models

everything about who we are

and not from the runway, she’s not the runway kind.

the visible

the invisible

that will keep telling me, us, and the world

who we get to be, in life, in story, in the world,

and of course how. 

 

The Supermodels
A.k.a. Art, Heart, and The Models
© Saturday May 31, 2025
Written By Nika Patrice.
Attribution: Nika Patrice.
Registered.
All Rights Reserved.