underneath the façade of nonchalance
chronic dissatisfaction festers
releasing the gray duality
of antiseptic and sick
embarrassed, she perfumes herself in
floral notes and deflects quickly:
well-tended, picket fence teeth
her heart pounds, fearing trespassers,
hunting hounds leashed and frantic
yowling to pursue her decay
— tear it into the open!
hide the welcome
mat
talk glibly