You Still Pretend, Only Not Like You Used To

Lipstick and fancy dresses
lose their wonder
when learned
to be applied correctly,
and acceptance begins
falling in the wrong hands
like snow in a city gutter,
slowly melting and draining all identity,
only to leave that leftover black exhaust and sediment
to amass into emotional walls
and more makeup.

You can ratchet up your spine,
but you're still a lamb
in lion's clothing.