tender

i.
beauty has black hair
and a dark smile, slipping
soundlessly in the shadows,
back and forth behind the bar.

beauty has full lips, a fleshed-out
face, and a cartilage piercing
in her left ear, with a thick ponytail
tucked back behind.

beauty has caramel skin
and perky little Hershey's Kiss
nipples.

ii.
beauty smiles at you
and says a few words,
and oftentimes you'll find
her in front of you
when the room is relatively
empty.

beauty will notice
what your t-shirt says,
but she won't say anything
until you bring it up.

iii.
beauty will always
conquer non-beauty,
as spring conquers winter,
until the seasons roll around again
and winter is on top.