From first self-
consciousness
this is the cry
that fills the shopping list
of all our longings.
THIS IS THE LIFE-WISH:
It’s why we buy our clothes
and cars, our glitz, lipsticks
and sixty-dollar haircuts.
It’s why we spritz ourselves
with costly scents
and strive for excellence;
do good; seek fame;
take exercise; suffer love;
believe in prayer; need botox.
Through years of
facelessness
amid slayers
of buddhas and brokers
the wraiths of beauty
hid rebel laughter
and deadly nail-lacquer.
Lessoned illicitly
and freed incidentally
these girls emerge keener
in loveliness
than the houri queen.
Wicked, wondrous
one shy princess dares a gaze
that mirrors us and says it:
LOOK AT ME.