My body is longing for
a soft, supple peony to brush against
my shaky fingers
bringing the tips of my broken fingernails
the concept of beauty
so when they scratch my waist as I put on my jeans in the morning
they remember what perfection feels like.
Let them remind me that I am whole
while they spread the sweet smell of spring across my back and down my legs
serving as a gentle reminder
that my limbs are soaked in silver glitter
filled with wholesome, raw, untouched
magnificence.

I said that you were amazing
But you yearned to hear it twice
So you said that my life was dull
And the words cut me like a knife

You insisted upon staying
Forever clinging to my side
To help the world around me
See how brightly I could shine

But your words stuck to my skin
And the poison stung my eyes
You convinced me what you said was true
And I believed the lies

Until one day I flushed my eyes
And washed the glitter off my skin
Seven months and here I was again
Finally tired of what you did

As I went to run my errands
A little girl stopped me on the street
"You're as pretty as a princess!" she said
And I smiled in disbelief

That little girl helped me realize
Something very important that day
You were foolishly advertising glitter
To a chandelier on display

i had another writing class
above the pharmacy today.
we watched a movie about bank robbers.
and in our discussion our professor said

there is so much evil
in the world
i dont even wish
to understand it.

i dont know if i agree or not
i dont know if thats the right answer.

//

eighties ladies
spray their hair back
wipe the snow
off the mirror.
march on.
glitter and sparkles
can always make
a dead thing look alive.
right?
youth and marriage.
love and wonder.
age like bread
on the windowsill.

there's something
worth loving
in here.

The other day
we strung up fairy lights for New Year's,
popped prosecco because we're too cheap for champagne,
kissed under confetti with glitter on our lips.

It's been grey since then,
the after party is never as good as the real thing.