Beauty Parlour

by Lynn White

Step inside my parlour,

my pampering parlour. 

You will be remade, reborn,

stroked and smoothed,

petted and prodded,

cosseted and curled,

given the attention you deserve

as well as a new face

and shiny new hair.

In Pampers Parlour we’ll recreate you.

We’ll reboot your confidence

and give you a new chemistry

as we gloss your hair and lips.

As we shape your face

with new shadows and glows.

As we apply layer upon layer

of chemical shit topped by

nose retching fragrances.

You won’t know yourself when 

you step outside 

dolled up to perfection,

protected in your new mask.

And what then?

Will you go home 

and comb it all out

and wash it all off,

preferring, 

after all, 

the person,

with the old skin

and fresh air colour

to the new robotic doll.

The pampers product is 

designed to be disposable, 

after all.

Or will you keep it 

as long as you can.

Try not to move your new face.

Try not to upset your new hair.

Place a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign

on your forehead.

Keep it as long as you can.

Even if stinky and crusty,

you’ll still have your face on.

You feel 

so bland,

so pale,

so wan,

exposed

without it

on the journey back

to the beauty parlour.

* * * * *

"Beauty Parlous" was first published in Weasel Press, Anthology of the Mad Ones, Feb 2016.

Lynn White lives in north Wales. Her work is influenced by issues of social justice and events, places and people she has known or imagined. She is especially interested in exploring the boundaries of dream, fantasy and reality. Her poem 'A Rose For Gaza' was shortlisted for the Theatre Cloud 'War Poetry for Today' competition. This and many other poems, have been widely published in anthologies and journals such as  Vagabond Press, Apogee, Firewords, Indie Soleil, Light Journal and Snapdragon.

Find Lynn at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynn-White-Poetry/1603675983213077?fref=ts and https://lynnwhitepoetry.blogspot.com