For Appearance’s Sake

A Poem

Photo by Lawrence Suzara: https://www.pexels.com/photo/women-s-white-and-purple-sleeveless-dress-on-black-mannequin-1566435/

you pick out the dress,
the shoes,
the make-up,
the perfect nail polish —
all to be your very best
on a night not like all the rest

you curl your hair,
brush your lips with gloss,
dust your cheeks in a rose-red tint,
and you think yourself a princess
just waiting on a charming man
to quicken your heart like no one else can

but you see the witch
staring at you from the mirror —
that dark-eyed vixen promising
a curse upon a kiss or something worse
like poisoned apples or enchanted sleep,
all those bitter pills and chills run deep

it’s all for appearance’s sake —
or so you try to protest
even as she smiles at you, mocking,
because she knows your heart the best:
after all, she is you in darker hues
and shadows painted for a passing ruse