The Makeover 

At the checkout 
her pre-pubescent skin 
glowing 
she was holding 
a plastic bag 
full of make-up 

When the cashier 
totaled her bill 
it came to $67.98 

As she began searching 
sifting through eye liner 
lip stick 
blush 
struggling as she gave back 
the nail polish 
the fake lashes 

I shadowed her 
sighing each time 
the tally changed 

With each deletion 
she became more reluctant 
shocked 
as she handed the clerk 
with acne 
her twenty 


Joanne Leva