the mirror

in the mirror

i see my lips

red,

more beautiful when hurt,

hurt

(i left my chapstick behind)

and now i reap the rewards,

red, fuller lips,

the stinging hidden behind the color.

i've known this,

since i was 10

the lady who was teaching me how to do makeup said my lips were so pretty

out loud i said 'thank you'

inside i said 'they're just chapped'.

when i take care of them they fade,

become unremarkable.

when i let them hurt

they are something to be noticed.