That Vile Child

There was a child went forth from many,
And the first woman she saw, that beauty she envied,
And that coveted perfection became part of her, simply because it was trendy.

The magazines became part of this child,
And tanning, and dancing, and beaches, and style,
And false friends, and movies, and parents who riled,
And swimsuits, and ballet, and youthful denial,
All became part of a child so vile.

The diets and trips became part of this child,
And blades, and hipbones, and vodka, and guile,
And ribs, and rehab, and choking on bile,
And cigarettes, and pills, and lies behind smiles,
All became part of a child so vile.

The mother at night sipping her poison alone,
The mother with harsh words with harsh tone,
The father, smart, but passive and never home,
The military IDs, the “Happy Birthdays” through phone,
The polishing of boots, the appearance of bones,
All became part of her on its own.