Glad Rags
You stare back at me
a long, hard look, unflinching
Your expression vacant, unchanging
hollow-cheeked, dark-eyed,
spare
coloured,
tinted, or black and white
Soft-toned image on hard shiny paper
an empty, two-dimensional
being
Expensive rags adorn
and hang about your frame
Cool mags project your image
independent, insouciant,
insolent
ideal and
unattainable
Slender, bony clothes-horse
sharp, angular cheekbones
long legs akimbo
red lips
slightly parted
eyes
inviting
Saying have me if you want me
yours for the taking
rouged and
ready-for-sex
Caped in haute couture
draped, designer-dressed
Fine fashion figure of long, crisp lines
sporting silk, wool, cotton,
cashmere
The cut, the crease, the costume
folds, buttons, pleats and
zips
placed to
emphasise the fit
stylised,
carefully-lit
Snapped and wrapped
shaped and taped
edited,
cropped
Air-brushed to perfection
Does your reality have more substance?
Do you exist outside the pictures?
After the last shutter clicks
and the camera-motor stops
the painful
pose abandoned
make-up all
removed
And another shoot is over
what do you think about?
And how do you feel
when you’re allowed to leave
the set?
Finally, sofa-settled
feet up, jumper and jeans
tea and
toast, and a quiet cigarette?
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