Fine

written by Kristen Cordero

Shall I be the naïve fool with a flower patch for brains?

The simpleton expected to prance in jangling chains?

Forever condemned to spin to the tune of these fools,

Who eagerly fix all with golden coins and jewels

Yet at the moment I meet your eyes and glare at you all

You’ll frown at the villain who was once a smiling doll

Thread the needle and stretch my jeering grin taught with wire

Quickly, cover the blemished cheeks with some rosy powder

Don’t you understand that you’re all living a lie?

Wearing that smiling mask until the day that you die

Crying, howling, and forever writhing into decline

But if you must insist, —then yes—everything is fine.