canvas

stained
erased
redrawn
rubbed out

each time the canvas waits
for him to tell her
what it is he wants to see

brand her with his rubber stamp
validate her arrogance
increase her net worth over her misguided sisters
and their delusional faith in the System

she anticipates the approval of his touch
the satisfaction in his smile
the twitch in his pants

suspend her on time
like some cotton bedsheet
blowing between innocence and depravity
plunge inside her
her warm bath
a retreat from the constant nagging of his
failures and inadequacies

she waits
planted in her awkward shoes
and rehearsed pose
killing time until his next inspired cliche

a fantasy
an illusion
a puzzle
a shell.