My mama told me
people pay for the lips
I have
with hard plastic
Swiping away dollars
For a wonderful alteration
This god given gift
has never done me
any real favors
Has it given me
what every girl is told
she should dream of?
Or do I say, whatever happened
happened. Love or not,
I was once wanted. Should be
enough
Hard Plastic

Syd Brewster is a Black American writer based in the Hudson Valley. Her writing has been featured in Sink Hollow, God’s Cruel Joke, The Table Review, and is forthcoming in Discount Guillotine. You can find her at sydbrewster.com and on Instagram @sydbrews