Forgive Me I Am Imperfect

&

Up the steps of imperfection we stumble & stall,
blind upstarts, our feeble feet astray & unstable,
panting after perfections we are no more able
to encompass than an imaginative animal.

an excerpt from "&: A Serial Poem" by Daryl Hine

Be Perfect.

That is what society tells us; that is what religious tells us; that is what we tell ourselves. These ideas of perfection, whether it is physical, social, emotional, or spiritual, consume our minds. The reality is though that we will not obtain that perfection. A friend of mine said, "I wish we were just okay with imperfection because perfection does not exist." That statement is true: real perfection does not exist. I photographed a series of powerful women in my life. They are strong, kind, beautiful individuals and though they say they are flawed, to me they are perfect.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I love people more than they love me.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I cannot control my blushing.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I have buggy eyes.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I am over sensitive.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I have a pig nose.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I am too nice.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I have a lot of anxiety.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I cannot spell.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I have a wrinkle.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I cannot let things go.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I am not as accomplished as my siblings.

Forgive me. I am imperfect. I am not excellent at anything in particular.