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Writer's pictureAlice Carroll

A Feminist Take on a Perfect Woman (Can this poem be saved?)

Updated: Mar 24, 2023

A wise old woman said to me one day. “I can tell you this

The perfect woman does not exist.

Is perfection based on good looks or the latest style?

These standards for perfection were set by whom?

Beware. Fashion and beauty magazines can lead to chronic doom.


Perfection is subjective and illusive.

Perfection does not assure happiness.”


The wise old women knew of what she said.

Trying to achieve perfection was making me crazy in the head.

Seeking perfection was paralyzing.

Obsessing, procrastinating, due to fear of failing.


Gave up seeking perfection.

Gave up looking at women’s fashion magazines

Resulted in happiness, self-satisfaction.

Had more friends, for a while, till they left me

Due to my smugness and conceit.


Self-satisfaction is subjective but achievable.

It does not assure happiness.

So anyone offering advice to me can pass.

or Anyone offereing advice to me can kiss my @$$.

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7 Comments


Nigel Smith
Nigel Smith
Mar 26, 2023

Of course beauty is not confined to physical appearance, a context which is purely subjective. Perhaps the beauty of

our humanity, our capacity for love, empathy and kindness is one perfection

we can all achieve, though it seems to be more apparent in woman-kind.

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Alice Carroll
Alice Carroll
Mar 23, 2023

Thanks for the words of encouragemment. I finallyfound a group of people who appreciate my humor. My apologies go to Rina for taking the opposite view of perfection; however, phrases kept swirling in my head.

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Nigel Smith
Nigel Smith
Mar 26, 2023
Replying to

"a group of people who appreciate my humor. " You're an honorary member of this damp Island nation now Alice!

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John Dallison
John Dallison
Mar 23, 2023

Wonderful work, Alice... 'To thine own self be true'.😚

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Dawson Stafford
Dawson Stafford
Mar 23, 2023

a poem of perfection about imperfection 😉

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Jes Derry
Jes Derry
Mar 22, 2023

Oh Alice, this poem doesn’t need saving it is Perfection! Humouress but with a very serious important and relevant message. I think being able to write poetry which is funny is a skill which is not easy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Thanks for the giggles.

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