They told her not to wear red, because good girls
don't, so she painted her lips with fire and blood and
glossed them over tight.
They said not to paint her nails black because nice
girls like them pink, so she bottled the night and hid the
grave dust and their skin under the grooves.
They warned her not to do her eyeliner too
dark, because smart girls don't wear it at
all, so she did her lids up like Sharpie, and they
couldn't see into her eyes, their words couldn't seep
into her soul.
They reminded her good girls don't wear skirts so
short, nice girls don't wear heels so high, and smart girls
don't wear either, so she hiked her dress up her
thighs and wore her killer heels, reminded them she was not
theirs to tame.
-c.b.l.
