Beauty in Vain

By Smita Mahto

I wrapped my skin

with a thick layer of foundation

And tossed my skin

with another layer of compact

As I kept adding layers

I was losing my touch

I applied a tint of rose on my cheeks

Like a sunbeam striking my skin

with its morning rays

While I apply a lip tint,

which was like the flowers

dripping their colour on mine

I kohled my eyes black,

Black than the night sky

Where the pupil shines like a crystal ocean

Or may be like the bright stars

Mascara striking each lash

Like water bounces at the seashore

The eye shadow weighing my eyes down

Giving the coy look of a girl next door

But while all

My skin shines so much more

To look sumptuous

I added as many layers as I could

But with each layer, I lost a bit of mine

I miss the touch of my flaws

Which makes me feel real in the world of

filters

I somewhere lost my coy smile

In the decked-up cheekbone

And, I somewhere lost myself,

my unfiltered self!

By Smita Mahto