she is
     the sap of the rarest tree
     forever watched
     prodded
     commercialized

the slow descent
     to swallow everything
     leaves her encased
     vilified
     sprouting spores of dust on a shelf

into a clockwork flower
     plucked and plumed
     sanitized in all the right places
     harlequin smile for the stage
     nipped and tucked for viewing pleasure