The Guide to Making Up
- Take the brush and paint
a smile, lips curving
around gritted teeth.
Make sure the liner
stays within your lips
and doesn’t bleed, doesn’t
show him what’s real.
- Take him by the hand,
Cock your head and smile.
Bat your eyes and say,
“You coming?” Grin.
- Close the door behind
you, watch him turn the wheel
as he finds your spot.
No streetlights, no cameras,
a few empty cars
around so you don’t
look too suspicious.
- Let him grab your hair
as he breathes in deep
and exhales your soul,
plasters it against
your pale clammy skin.
- Close your eyes and stop
your heart from pumping.
Stop it before
It aches, grows weary
with reality.
- Know that what you’re doing
is for the best.
Whoever said happy
wife, happy life was dead
wrong. They never knew
what it’s like to be
that wife, putting
make-up on to hide
the tears that stream.