Pretty Beauty

Aug 18, 2023

Pretty is cheap, red lipstick(s),

$1.99, sold, in bulk.

Beauty is precious, orange sunset,

saturating, sky, whole.

Pretty surrenders, weak knees, white flags.

Beauty fights, love warriors, golden armors.

Pretty is the ornament you wear

and then become, still lacking.

Beauty is the unplucked eyebrow

and then grow, forest of plenty.

Pretty constraints, heart in a cage,

each rib, steel cold, made out of “should be”s.

Beauty expands, butterfly broke out,

a trace, upward, blossom of color-full.

Footnote:

Second English poem try, draft 1.

First time trying a pseudo-sonnet, yeah, somewhat iambic pentameter and rhyme. I will use “contemporary free verse” as my cover.

Inspired by:

<Ugly Beauty> by Jolin Tsai;

Interview with Tracee Ellis Ross;

Conversation with @winona, @sishi on “beauty standard”;

<I am homeless if this is not my home> by Lorrie Moore;

<dept. of speculation> by Jenny Offill.