people glanced with arched eyebrows
and squinted stares,
they whispered to their friends
or make eye contact with another passer-by
had she seen herself before she left?
her fringe had been cut rather crooked,
and they thought she looked the fool.

If they really looked at her though,
they would see the dead despair in her eyes,
slumped shoulder
shielding a secret life.
They would see her weather beaten hands
that are tired.
she works seven days a week,
but doesn't see a penny of it,
and when she comes home
she has to fulfill her 'duties',
like a good wife.

her fringe is crooked
because she cut it herself,
by candlelight,
her hands shaking
fearing that he may see
and punish her
from straying from her 'duty'