you rolled out
the red carpet for me
just to pull it out
from under
my already unsteady legs
wobbling
in the stilettos
i wore
to maintain your image of me

funny how the things i did
to please you
to meet your standards
to be your starsearch

those things
broke my neck
in the end

but this time is different

the spotlight is mine
and i'm not acting
the public loves me
as i am
and i unroll my own
goddamned
red carpet
walk down it
barefoot





you broke the heart
of an ugly ducking

well

now
her feathers
turned white

and she no longer
swims
in your pond