Behind Glass

By Ariel Fullerton

glasses cover iris 

ivory- do not touch 

waxing and waning 

body 

masterpieces 

in a museum 

moon-hanging arched 

on the walls 

one woman after another 

lined up, looking down, 

awaiting an unfair trial 

watching as they 

file in and steal 

their beauty with their glances lancing 

eyes- eating them out of their frames 

devouring art 

and wasting no time- the eyes touching them 

aggressively- 

“please don’t touch the artwork” 

they yell 

they thought they were safe behind the glass 

but it is smudged and turning from glass to wax 

and they are pressing into the gallery, the painting, and the frames leering over the rims of their glasses- chardonnay 

while the women try to cover up and hide behind the penetrable glass the wolves seek out the moons and suns 

to stare at and howl at and tear into pieces.

By Ariel Fullerton