Girls with chapped lips will never get kissed.
They told you that on the playground.
You were 7.
You weren’t perfect.

You turned to Blistex and Rose Salve,
But Burt’s Bees was your favorite.
Beeswax. Vitamin E.
A hint of peppermint oil.

You could be perfect.
5 simple applications a day: wake up, circle time, snack time, shower time, bed time.
And you grew up.
And one day your lips were smooth and supple.
But you weren’t perfect.

And ChapStick couldn’t save you.
Now you spend your days desperately trying to moisturize
  Bloody splits the taste of sour pennies.
And you know now that girls with chapped lips can never be perfect.

You used to take pride in never having chapped lips.