[“Stretch Marks” is a song written for The Body is Not An Apology] [Verse 1]

When I look at myself in the mirror
Naked and completely mortified
I see stripes growing all over my body
I see marks that will stay for my whole life, because

[Chorus]

I have stretch marks on my arms, on my stomach, on my hips
And with the lip service I’ve been giving probably on my lips
I have stretch marks on my back, on my chest, on my brain
As my mind keeps on containing all the shit you keep on saying
I have stretch marks on my arms, on my stomach, on my hips
And probably on my knuckles as I keep clenching my fists
I have stretch marks on my back, on my chest, on my eyes
As my mind tries to look past all of your disgusting replies

[Verse 2]

When I look at myself in the shower
Trying to scrub and scrub my body squeaky clean
My hand rubs against my inconsistently marked side
And I start believing no one will want me, because

[Chorus]

I have stretch marks on my arms, on my stomach, on my hips
And with the lip service I’ve been giving probably on my lips
I have stretch marks on my back, on my chest, on my brain
As my mind keeps on containing all the shit you keep on saying
I have stretch marks on my arms, on my stomach, on my hips
And probably on my knuckles as I keep clenching my fists
I have stretch marks on my back, on my chest, on my eyes
As my mind tries to look past all of your disgusting replies

[Verse 3]

But when I take a second glance at my body
All I see is how amazing it really is
Even if you think I don’t treat it how I’m supposed to
Well I just can’t manage to care less
Because when I look at these marks on my body
All I see is how amazing they really are
They’re just like tiger stripes or trails leading to pleasures galore
So much more than simple body-damning scars, because

[Chorus]

I have stretch marks on my arms, on my stomach, on my hips
They exist in perfect harmony with how body fits
I have stretch marks on my back, on my chest, on my brain
As my mind keeps on containing all my stretch marks that are changing
I have stretch marks on my arms, on my stomach, on my hips
And probably in the places that my eyes can tend to miss
I have stretch marks on my back, on my chest, on my eyes
From all the exploring they do on my never-ending stripes

[Headline image: The photograph features a light-skinned person lifting their shirt to reveal the stretch marks on their stomach.]