ugly dolled up--

a good quiet cry, eyes squeezed

shut.

pretend makes it go away--

sweet sociopathic denial.

misshapen rancor, not a word

spoken of it, only haggard

hobblings, and gutless mouthings.

that cross the T of the tale.

fresh white sheets thrown over a corpse

that plays dead, while the heart

bleeds through.

a truly artful stain.