The Object of Desire - April 21 2022

 

The Object of Desire

April 21 2022

Long hair

tumbling down her back

bleached a brassy blonde.

A winter tan

from a plastic bottle

that's starting to stain her blouse,

the hot overhead lights

making her sweat, instead of glow.

White teeth

that gleam with modern chemistry,

but make her smile

seem insincere.

Of course, she rarely smiled,

and the cool hauteur

of her sulky pout

risks becoming permanent.

But I have to admit,

in the photograph

carefully staged and perfectly lit

she looks beautiful;

a brittle beauty, perhaps

and somehow unnatural,

but one that men desire

and other women envy.

But seeing her pose like this

I detect a certain neediness

as if desperate for approval.

Insecure,

because she wants to be loved

for more than her beauty,

and knows that age

won't treat her well.

I prefer the well-scrubbed health

of the girl-next-door;

approachable,

some meat on her bones,

and a genuine smile

that lights up her eyes

doesn't hide the crooked tooth.

Her flaws, like mine

plainly on display.

Even though

as she once was told,

smile enough

and the crow's feet will stay.

The object of desire

who works so hard for it.

And the girl we end up falling for

with the strength to be herself.