In Parentheses

Charlotte Martin

State of pain like mercury

Hearing pink illusions

Gorgeous at eighty five

Older at twenty three

I drink the water out of time

I said has anybody seen

The whirlpool floating in my mind

I said has anybody seen

This is the low that I could find

And I'm on solitary sand

And I've been stepped on by a man

But I've stood taller than I am

In parentheses

Beauty queens are very shy

More than lash than meets your eye

So she jumps

Then wants to fly

Well it's too late now

I'm in denial

I'll get medieval on boy bands

I said is anybody listening?

The way life makes the nice girls fast

I said is anybody listening?

It isn't just unlucky chance

And I'm on solitary sand

And I've had bullshit from a man

But found exactly who I am

I'll never be the vision of a girl who can write poetry

I'll never be the little black dress we've seen on Natalie B.

I'll never be five foot ten, I'm barely five foot three

I'm on solitary sand

But in parentheses