"A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips,"

Warns a "well-meaning" family friend,

Wagging her finger and clicking her tongue.

Let me stop you right there, lady, because that's not how it goes.

You've got it all backwards, twisted, mixed-up. 

"A moment on your lips, a lifetime in my mind,"

That's how it goes,

Whirling around like a maelstrom on the inside

Of my head.

The words take two seconds to leave your mouth, no more than a blink

And you don't hesitate because you never stopped to think

About how that bite-sized lecture, sly, insidious

Is capable of making someone else feel worthless, hideous.

You smile like a set of false teeth,

Thinking I'll take to heart every word you speak.

Well, I might. That's the danger, lady.

It gets to me after a while. And then I start mulling it over, internalizing.

And as I look at my waist, I begin realizing

That maybe there is something foul about it. Maybe it has to go.

That's your goal, though.

You want me to recreate you, a spitting image, a hologram

To serenade me with these morsels of "wisdom" whenever I eat.

You want me to become you.

Well luckily for me, I don't want to.

Triple zero, double zero, zero, 2, 4, 6, 8?

It looks like after that, you are completely unable to appreciate

Another person's legitimate status as a human being.

It makes me want to scream.

You think you're entitled to give me a sermon?

You're wrong, lady. Look at me, and listen.

"It is completely absurd that you think you can judge my worth based on my dress size."

"Excuse me?" Now you're offended; good grief, you still don't get it!

Long story short, "I don't need your permission to do anything.

I will say, eat, and do what I want, when I want. 

Thank you very much.

Have a nice day."

Finally, I've got it right:  A moment on my lips,

a decision in my mind,

And now I can stick up for myself for the rest of my life.