in the mirror
a perfect mother
of a daughter well behaved
a son flawless as his father
chiselled jaw, ice-blue eyes
no one sees her rusted imperfections
the welds cracked almost unhinged
no one hears her silent screams
on standby night or day
her mind tattered as her breath
chain store cosmetic concealer
cheap and works the best
slathered thick
hides her from the mirror
from the world