on a particularly cold, sleepless night
there's an orange full moon
in the azure sky,
split in four by the metal grillwork
on the window

a lone dog howls
as the Earth shies away from its only companion
as if to not look back ever

and we think day has come
again

five years after
going cold turkey on kajal
because it made you look different to others
than what you think you really look like

now,
when you put on dark brown liquid lipstick
starting from your near perfect cupid's bow
and finishing with your glorious lower lip
and draw symmetrical, sharp wings
like acrylic on canvas
and choose to look like that
for yourself

i am grateful
because i grow
when you grow