Good morning, Jane.


Today is your day.


Mountain Spring
Clean
Zest-fully
delicious,
be sure to wash
the taste of last night's
winning
holiday
memorial
homecoming
I don't want to be here
cheer
from your hair.

Tuck smooth
as a baby's bottom,
Gillette legs
carefully into
opaque black stockings.
Try not to snag.
Remember.
You are not a runner.

Cover Girl Clean.
Your Ego responds.
Cosmopolitan
Marie Claire
Mademoiselle
And the like.

What they're really saying is:

"Cover it, Girl!
Cover it good.
Prime it and
polish it,
exfoliate and dry.
We don't want to see you
bare-assed, bare faced
bare-boned."
And the like.

Not today.
Not in this light.
Never in full sun.

Remember Jane.
Save bare
for cloudy days,
dim light
and no light.

Save it for moments when you are by yourself.
And do not expect 8 a.m. good morning knocks.

But today,
Don't disappoint.
Paint your cheeks, Jane.
Paint them rosy
and dewy
and young.

And as you worship
a sleek black
disappointingly phallic
container
( you've seen them, girls.),
repeat to yourself
this
and
every
morning's
mantra:

"ColorStay Lipstick will not Smudge."
"ColorStay Lipstick will not Smudge."
"ColorStay Lipstick will not Smudge."

not on belt buckle,
nor zipper,
nor any other direction
you have to
head.

You're a good woman, Jane.
Good Woman,
in permanently pressed,
disposed of
in 2.5 seconds flat,
slacks.

Remember to brush your
teeth,
comb your hair,

and re-sew
the tears in your skin

each
and
every
day.

and
Make us proud.

( we know silver trees drip a trail from your pant leg. )

We believe in you.
we Believe in you.
we believe in You.
Us.



Yes,
Good Morning Jane.

Today is your day.