Or I will stitch it in for you.

Now sit up straight

And stay perfectly still.

Or I will strap you to that chair.

Squelch those pesky flames in your eyes,

Or I’ll pop them out for you.

Pretend that everything is fine,

That the tepid conversations are of value,

That the eyes skimming through you

Don’t faze you.

Just arrange your beautiful, placid, face

A behave like a lovely doll set upon a shelf and left to collect dust.

Perfection.