Lights around my mirror mock me

Ghosts from the old movie palaces

I paint over the freckles

I got from laughing in the sun with you

I paint my lips white

So you will ignore my smile

I paint my eyes black

As if I were sleepless

Beaten and haunted

But my pupils are trying

To swallow the scratch-thin

Rim of green

A sign of attraction

Or sweet belladonna

I can’t hide