Tangerine

This was the world

She was born to

This dream

Unrealistic

Unattainable

Perfect ringlet curls

Rosy cheeks

And

Sparkling blue eyes

Big and round

And hopeful

But

It all faded

With the passing of time

She found she could not

Keep up

Her perfect curls

Became frizzy and unkempt

No one taught her

To tame them

Her big sapphire eyes

Formed shadows

From the worry

Of not being

Quite as good

As the others

But she learned

How to edit herself

Painted uncomfortable

Colour on her lips

That once looked

Like dewy rosebuds

Before they grew

Cracked and dry

Colour on her cheeks

That once glowed scarlet

Before sleeplessness

Washed them out

Longer lashes

Softer skin

Touched

And touched up

And retouched

All to try to achieve

That old perfection

Of youth

That could never exist again

And perhaps

Never existed

To begin with