reduction

in glorious cosmetic numbness

under flaunted dyes obscenely 

spackled below mirrorball’d nights

how the sham-glam deteriorates

into early morning puddles of

costly hoax and lost ways

surrender now to dismay and grief

the delayed fog that settles in

unaccompanied and uninvited

this pharmaceutical-grade inclusion

often received chilled at last call

before the lights come on

and when they do

the world shrinks

(image from thewindowofthesummerhouse.tumblr.com)