Silver, Glitter, and Gold

They award you

when you’re 

Pretty enough to

Accept it 

when on

Camera

smiling prettily

with ease

 

Fluttering eyelashes

like butterflies kissing 

dusky pink cheeks

blended with concealer hoping that

It won’t show through, 

rosy lipstick charms

as the camera 

flash whitens teeth

 

But when time draws lines 

across inhabited flesh,

the stars have faded

into the obscure abyss that 

awaits us all

the praise stops at the line

drawn by aging

 

They award you

When you’re 

 

Pretty and

Young.