A Poem for Recovery

The Weight of a Rule
Author Unknown

I counted, I measured, I followed each line,
A whisper of numbers that said I was fine.
Each bite was a verdict, a rule to obey,
A hunger ignored, a price I would pay.

I lived by the book, by the charts, by the scale,
Afraid of myself if I dared to derail.
But the rules never held me, they only confined—
A cage built of fear in the back of my mind.

Then one day I paused—what if I chose?
What if I listened instead of opposed?
The taste of an apple, the warmth of fresh bread,
No longer just numbers, but nourishment instead.

Now I sit softly, my plate and my peace,
No longer a prisoner to "should" and "decrease."
The rules have no power, they crumble like sand,
I honor my body—I trust where I stand.