Little Blue Clouds

On days without clouds

Sunshine burns my skin

Invisible rays

Leave callouses thin

Without my blue clouds

In an orange can

I’m forced to seek shade

Stick my head in sand

With little blue clouds

My middle's secure

But on days without

My mind is more pure 

I never take time

To look at the sky

The fear of the hurt

Means beauty drifts by

But without the clouds

The sky is so blue

The highs are up there

Though lows are there too

I stick with my clouds

And accept the mean

For my present’s sake

To keep my mind clean

I work toward my strengths

For fortitude and

One day I’ll emerge

A much stronger man

When my job is done

And I find my ground

I’ll trade them for wings

And I’ll fly around

I’ll look past the clouds

To a bright blue sky

I’ll bear through the lows

To bask in the highs

6.5

The smallest words 

Can sometimes hurt

For years after they should

It’s been some time

But I still find

My outsides aren't good

I still remember

One day when

The girls rated the guys

He was an 8

And he, the same

And I, a 6.5

The lowest grade

Almost a fail

If looks were academe

Shallow yes

Perhaps naive

But hurtful all the same

It’s been some years

I’ve grown a bit

And found a happy place

But now you seem

Confused when I

Don’t try to see your face

It’s not so much

A clung-to grudge

I’ve just moved on, you see

I’ve found new friends

And they respect

The handsome inside me

I may not be 

Most beautiful

Or favored by your vote

But rest assured

I’m stronger now

My mental stays afloat

For looks will fade

The glory days

Of youth will not endure

Though not the best

At looks, I find

My heart and mind mature

So if you wonder

Where I’ve been

Just know I’m doing fine

And if you wonder

How I look?

I’d say an 8.5