Beauty Unmasked by Anonymous (14, Virginia)

I wipe off my makeup
With a small, rough cloth.
I use no water,
No chemicals.
My tears are enough.

I slide the fraying fabric
Down just half of my face.
Take a deep breath,
Look up
And find the disgrace

---

On one side is the mask;
Beautiful and refined.
What they want
And expect,
Far from what's behind.

On the other side is dirt;
Flawed, blotchy, a mess;
Bringing looks
Of disgust.
Pitiful and worthless.

I look away from the mirror
To avoid it for a while.
A shudder,
A sob.
I fight back the bile.

With a swallow and a deep breath,
I turn back to see the stranger.
She's still there
And stares back,
Eyes haunted, sensing danger.

I stand my ground, resolve holding
And look at her in thorough scrutiny.
I look at the perfect side,
I look at the flawed side.
And now I think I see more truthfully.

I look back to the mask:
It's the cowards way out.
Sharp, petty.
Hard, fake.
A magazine cutout.

Look at anyone; it's the same,
Trying to meet specific standards:
Dark eyes, pale skin,
Red lips, pink cheeks:
Mind-slaves missing any candor.

I look back to the other side,
Looking less fearfully to that face.
Now I'm curious,
Intrigued.
How had this girl lost the race?

Taking in this new perspective,
I feel my world flip as I stare.
She's simple, humble, 
Soft, and real.
Beautiful. Unique. Perfect. Rare.

Tears fill and warp my vision still,
Though now with a much different mood.
I smile
Then laugh.
I could get used to this change in attitude.

Looking back at myself
As in confidence I bask,
I turn on the faucet,
Rinse the cloth,
And finally take off the mask.