WHAT'S WRONG WITH IMPERFECT?

Color the lips, slim down the hips, get rid of the double chin
Realign teeth, cover crows' feet,
Powder each pimple that breaks through the skin
Pluck out the brows, then draw them in
As if imperfect outside
Means imperfect within

Mascara the lashes, pierce the ears
Shave the armpits, hide all tears
Spray sweat away, shadow the eyes
Get rid of grey hairs, with chemical dyes
Powder each pimple that breaks through the skin
Pluck out the brows, then draw them in
As if imperfect outside
Means imperfect within

Cut the grass short, spray weeds away
Make sure the lawn shows no sign of decay
Let nothing grow wild, control all that's seen
Keep the grass a flawless green
Shape all hedges, manicure edges
Don't let nature intrude on the eye
Of any casual passerby
Kill each dandelion that pops through earth's skin
As if imperfect outside
Means imperfect within.

We face the world with our face
We face the world with our lawn
Based on the premise
That absence of blemish
Means perfect or lovely or strong
There's no contemplation as we smear, spray, or place
Cockeyed concoctions on our lawn or our face
And yet they may do much more than we think.
For whatever we use to cover our stink
Alter asymmetry, or make Snow White's apple red,
May also leave aspects of nature
Dead.

We ignore the damage that might arise
Creating faces and lawns that are
Lies.