there’s a sale on:

new year new plastic lights and glittery wrappings

new mirrors almost as transparent

as the same old sung singing song.

you wander the aisles —

past the ads and flashy discount coupons

past the too bright lights that must be broken

click click on the gleaming linoleum tiles.

haven’t you met me?

i’m in row three, near the checkout tills

and the helpful green signs

next to candies and sweet sweet diabetes.

i wonder if you notice

that odd half light beneath my kohl lined eyes

or the non existent nervous uptick

on the brittle edge of my lips?

you regard me—

i regard you back, cocking

my head to the side with a smile and you

see the price tag dangling from my chin

like a cheap earring.

what, are you scared?

of the perfectly photogenic creams and whites

appalled, shocked or worse— horror stricken,

have you convinced yourself that you cared?

what scandalous curiosity! —

to discern the lies beneath my chest — a menu

A: an alphabet of clockwork or

B: my strange silver glass heartbeat?

welcome to the store —

i’ll be your model for today; do you

want to try out the clothes on my back?

sample some of our shared memories?

would you be wanting a personal tour?

it’s curated but don’t fret—

your secrets are kept safe from those who don’t probe—

just me, you, and the CCTV all

marching through the products on display

the weather’s much better than

it was yesterday — that’s what our happiness points say, look!

the organic perfumes are all going for

bargain prices today.

things are well, thank you,

my daughter’s all grown up, attending some big name school

we’re very proud, my husband and me

how kind of you to ask, merci.

no, i don’t get tired.

not much anymore, it’s a twenty four seven three sixty five store

and i’ve evolved to keep up with the demand

you know, for when today is tomorrow

well, what about you?

the exit’s downstairs and quite easy to get to

or do you plan to keep following me into store depths

as you admire the quite straight back of my neck?

there’s a sale on:

new year new me; remakes and resolutions

new mirrors are in high demand — shouldn’t you

snatch them up before they’re gone?

we walk the aisles

past the flashy ads and discount coupons

under the glow of bright lights, click

click click on the gleaming linoleum tiles.