Makeup

The other day I saw a girl

Wearing makeup…

Ok, so I just described most girls.

But she was wearing a lot of makeup

And I looked at her and I said:

“Hey, you don’t need to wear makeup.”

She stared at me for a minute

and walked the other way

but this isn’t the end

Cuz something happened the next day.

The next day she comes to me

Her eyelids drooped

Her face real pale

Something’s different

About this girl

So being a concerned kind of a guy who cares, I ask:

“Hey, are you feeling alright?”

And she starts to cry

And I don’t know why

But then she says she took my advice

She hadn’t worn makeup that day.

And she called me a liar, indeed my pants were on fire…

Metaphorically speaking.

Now this story’s not true.

By which I mean I made it up.

By which I mean that’s just how I envision it would go down.

In reality I don’t say anything about girls’ makeup

In reality I know that’s not a place to go

In reality I don’t speak my mind.

But this time around I’m gonna speak my mind

So here we go, and listen up

Every girl who can hear,

lend me your ears.

Girls, know you’re beautiful

And I’m not talking about your looks

Because the makeup you wear

Is the mask you wear

And your beauty isn’t just what people can see

And your beauty doesn’t have to be skin deep

And your beauty isn’t determined by them or me

But I know you’re beautiful

But then I’m in my school

And I see you girls out there

playing the game called

“Let’s See How Little I Can Wear”

I don’t know why you’re choosing

To dress in that way

Because your life is your life

This isn’t a game

It’s not scored by the number of looks guys give you

It’s not scored by how many guys will flirt with you

It’s not scored by how jealous you make her

It’s not scored by how much you like her

It’s not scored

And when you cry for respect

And for anti-misogyny

But then you dress like that

What kind of message do you send?

See feminism’s about equality

Not bringing modesty to an end

Look, I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry

There are guys out there and they’re just jerks

But they won’t get better

If on their junk you twerk

Don’t snap your fingers and say

“My eyes are up here!”

When you’re wearing a shirt

That seems to have a tear

Really, I’m trying not to look down there

Girls, I think you’re beautiful

Really, you’re beautiful

But I don’t think cleavage is what was meant

When the first feminists brought up empowerment

So even if society, through movies and ads

Tell you that that kind of life is the only to be had

Know that showing off your chest

And showing off your butt

Doesn’t add to your beauty

And neither does makeup