thin black snakes curl smoothly away from your eyes
they rest peacefully on your skin, asleep the whole day
until 3:07 in the girls' bathroom when your crystalline tears bring them alive
to wiggle and glide down your perfectly rosy cheeks
before you smudge them away with angry fists
and remove all evidence with a soggy paper towel.
at home mother wonders why we are so different
my grades impeccable, yours atrocious
we are closer than she believes
at 3:07 in the girls' bathroom I hold your hand while you cry
and wipe away all the splotches that you miss.
but there's still one secret you're keeping from me:
who taught you to paint your eyes like Cleopatra?
they rest peacefully on your skin, asleep the whole day
until 3:07 in the girls' bathroom when your crystalline tears bring them alive
to wiggle and glide down your perfectly rosy cheeks
before you smudge them away with angry fists
and remove all evidence with a soggy paper towel.
at home mother wonders why we are so different
my grades impeccable, yours atrocious
we are closer than she believes
at 3:07 in the girls' bathroom I hold your hand while you cry
and wipe away all the splotches that you miss.
but there's still one secret you're keeping from me:
who taught you to paint your eyes like Cleopatra?
This piece has been published in Teen Ink’s monthly print magazine.
Rainrunner
zendaya
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