Sparkle

i am all over everything
brilliant little stupid girl
put on your boots and smile
we're all watching you,
you know.

don't say-
don't think-
don't do-
anything.
it's not going to matter
anyway.

hush now, little one
it's cute how you think
you're a grown-up
with your house and the voices
calling mommy
the minivan and the backyard all fenced in
even the dog is just right
big enough to be a threat
but old and a mutt
so she's gentle and slow.

you want to peel back the wrapper?
take off the size one jeans and the sparkly eyeliner
strip out the dye and see
the thing hiding underneath?
of course you do.
everyone wants to unmask
the sideshow freak
to find out the illusionist's secrets
but once it's done
the universal reality
is that it's never as good
as what you imagined
you saw.