I learned the truth at seventeen
that love was meant 4 beauty queens
and high school girls with clear skinned smiles
who married young and then retired
the valentines I never knew
the Friday night charades of youth
were spent on one more beautiful
at seventeen I learned the truth
and those of us with ravaged faces
lacking in social graces
desperately remained at home
inventing lovers on the phone
who called to say come dance with me
and murmured vague obscenities
it isn