Can’t See

I’m a confident young woman.

Gotta job, gotta place, gotta man.

Women got rights, now.

I understand.

Ain’t nobody making me do things.

I live for me

I talk for me.

I dress for me.

Not you.

You see?

Make-up, applied with nervous care, 

Sweating in front of me.

Slashes of colour

Covering up

Highlighting

Defining

When I leave the mirror [me] behind,

I can’t see the result.

Can you?

My dress, fitted like a glove before.

Will again – 

just hold in, tuck in, remove my stomach.

flattering

flatter me

flatten me

Looks good on profile,

but I can’t see.

Can you?

Shoulders back. Now walk.

My shoes, jet black. Too tight? Not too.

So tall, precarious.

Heels make my calves seem bigger.

Can’t see them from up here.

Can you?

Waist band

Hair band

Bra strap

Pulled in

Tucked in

Sucked in 

Sucked in