Smeared Lipstick and Chipped Polish

she wanted to be fire,

to burn so bright none could bear to look into her soul

to be desirable, untameable

she wanted to be the one who shone red, blood red, fire red

but all she saw in the mirror was

messy lips; ruined mouth

freckled skin; dark shadows

eyes too big – or were they too small?

hair that once blazed with flames but had long since faded into browns and greys

and the only red came from within, when she opened the door and it bubbled up

she wanted to be the sun

but she was the moon even her wolves would not acknowledge

she was the moon who pretended to be the sun

and that was not enough.

how do you stop everyone from leaving?

you hold the door open and thank them for stopping by,

and when they go you lock the door and set the house on fire.

and then you burn, darling, how you burn.