"For the Camera"

The old photos reveal nothing   

         show no hint of the abuses   

                     that darken your future   

         Gape-tooth smiles, youthful   

                     mugging for the camera   

                                 don’t predict   

                                             anorexia   

                                             drugs    

                                             despair   

         The childish arms that hugged   

                     friend and family   

                                 Now   

                     hang skeletal   

                                 by your sides   

         While your sunken eyes   

                     and forced and frozen smiles   

                                             lie   

                                             lie   

                                             lie    

                                                         for the camera    

         Pretending your world glows   

         Making believe he’ll finally   

                                             notice you   

                                             love you   

                     fit you into his small and selfish life   

Copyright 2011 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman