A Change In Appearance

… and so then I decided 
to dye my hair black 
but somehow it came out

red. Stained the tops of my 
lobes in the process - my ears now
constantly burning. I thought to

myself ‘Why not put your hair 
up like those models and guys
in the movies? A man bun?’

Mine came out more like
a deflated scone, its leaking 
contents my hair: straggly and

errant like bitter strawberries or
sour milk – the difference I’d 
hoped for not entirely a

success. I’d seen my reflection in
a store’s mirror broken, cracked.
My body slewed across one surface

cut in two. ‘Why can’t I be more
like him?’ ‘Why can’t I look like
them?’ Questions pasted over my

face like powdered arsenic; make up
revealing my flaws rather than
covering them. A change was 

needed. A reinvented me. And 
so, then, I decided to dye 
my hair black. But it came out

red.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Lawless Avatar
May 30, 2020 at 7:07 PM
This was definitely different. Painting pictures of meandering metaphor and Roving that the difference can often be different
Watt Avatar
May 30, 2020 at 1:20 PM
Thomas, your poem was to dye for! I enjoyed your musings on wanting to be somebody else. I think we've all been there. Congratulations on your podium win ~ John
Mishra Avatar
May 30, 2020 at 12:07 PM
Quite a different story blended into the theme. Congratulations on your win Thomas :)
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace