Cruel

Eyes so painted
and lips so tainted
the theater of the skin
but the beauty lays within

Disguised beneath so many layers
poses for a snapshot moment
could be more attractive than you appear
but never be more immaculate than you

And to an abstract become inflated
every blemish suffers unadulterated
it becomes the scar
never to be contented with who you really are

Shape and form must be perfected
enhanced the puppet strings connected
claims identity
in the factories of copy after copy

If you were and only could be
more faultless than you really should be
picture possessed for an exposure minute
the tailors dummy of publicity

Eyes so tainted
and lips so painted
every defect concealed below decorated
intangible mural you become
animated stage of presentation
the cruel theaters of the skin
betray the beauty which always lays within

So cruel it is to you

Every fascination becomes a bauble
a gold encrusted noose
on which to dangle
the desperation of appeal

Stuffed into feathers fashioned
cushions fighting for the adverts
these sown together facsimiles
is the me in expressive tailor-made

And your life a piece of art work    
each symbols collectible remark  
paints the mask
of who you never really are
In the mirror dissatisfaction
daily judgment of perfection
you wear it like a scar
never a smile for who you really are

If you were and only could be
more faultless than you really should be
a photo posed abstracts anatomy of beauty
the accommodation of magazine publicity

Every fascination becomes a bauble
a gold encrusted noose
on which to dangle
the desperateness to appeal
a presentation of nothing that is real
such are the cruel theaters of the skin
betraying a soul wishing not to be constrained within