When You Look at Me, What Do You See? 2026 Sapling Poet Award Winner

Author: Alex Herrera

When you look at me what do you see? Do you see what I am or what I once was. Do you see who I am or do you just see cracks in the clay that make me up? Do you see a person in whole? Or just scratches and imperfections in your own welding; and perhaps those imperfections came from the welder.

Am I not enough to be looked at as a whole? Do I not deserve the feeling of being more than my faults? All I am to you is a fault. Everything I do. It’s like I’m nothing more than that. To you, I’m nothing more than a chip in a diamond you made. A chip that was rooted by you.

Everything we do is an extension of what we see. So would that be my fault? Is that the reason that you see me with so much spite? Because you see yourself in me? Or is it my fault? When I ask you what you see, I ask you if you see yourself. Do you see an original being? Or just an extension of your own flaws.

When I ask you what you see, I ask you for hope. Some form of hope that you could give me. I ask you why you act like you dislike me. I ask you if I am good enough for you. Do I meet your standards? Or am I just a sort of burden on you. When you look at me what do you see? Am I forever just a gap-toothed little boy? Or am I this figure of rebellion and disrespectfulness? I ask you what you see in hopes that you see me.