Nice Girls Finish Last (November 2003)

15 years old
bubble gum covering Bacardi on her breath
body spray screening the smoke from her clothes
creeping in past curfew
her parents are clueless to what's going on
time won't give them a chance
to learn that
big girls don't cry
and nice girls finish last

she'll see your inch of cleavage
and raise 2 inches of midriff
red highlights are no match for
a blonde, layered, and frosted job
second ear piercings pale in comparison to
bejeweled tongues, bellies, and noses
16 years old and she can't
remember her natural hair color
but she doesn't need to live
in the past
big girls don't cry
and nice girls finish last

binge and purge for the prom dress
the Homecoming queen just never
seemed hungry
17 years old when she fainted
at the crowning but
everyone just thought she was
happy
as the ambulance pulled away
the fat girls danced in celebration
but no one gave them a second glance
the big girls didn't cry
the nice girls finished last

my friend was one of the
nice girls
18 years old, went to college
found a boy and did everything
the cool kids did years ago
19 years old, had a baby
and became the highlight
of post graduation gossip
I saw her when the dust settled
baby girl in her arms
and I asked
how will you keep her from
growing up too fast
how will you keep her from
repeating the past
in a world where big girls
don't cry
and nice girls finish last?