The Study of Lips

Noticing lips
pouts on the F train to Second Avenue
The Blonde: a few freckles on her face,
nude lips, hair upswept
rhinestone earrings blossom

Over there
Bettie Page with fiery pucker
bull nose
piercing

Another
light pink, shiny-full
complimentary to her camel coat with coral scarf

We are all searching for something
or someone
We seek each other out our eyes
connecting

Wine soaked mouth
berry and black checkered jacket
mousy brown hair natural
she moves closer to male lips
with Container Store bag
corduroy coat raven locks slicked back
She is wondering,
What would it be like to kiss him?

My friend waits for our next stop
messy ponytail
fuschia glasses
cherry lips
a mix of cotton candy with glitter gloss on top

I mentally zoom n on my own face/my own pout
mine are dry with remaining red color from this afternoon
Does anyone else notice?
I whisper, "sssshhhhhh."
to kiss myself and embrace my own voice,
the feel of my own lips, top and bottom,
my mouth.

I glide on coconut chapstick and wonder
How my husband keeps his lips so
naturally soft.





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