Victorian Beauty

The sphere of aristocracy

demanded beauty awe,

thus spurring deadly pharmacy

to cover any flaws:

Your silhouette an hourglass,

though hoop skirts caused grim falls

and corsets hugged so tight you gasped

for air as organs crawled;

Your skin translucent, pale as milk-

an ars'nic bath, perhaps?

or leaded makeup powder, thick?

a radium-white mask?

Your lips as red as flower buds

from insect powder paint

(ammonia'd carmine, cooked and crushed)-

my dear, do you feel faint?

The line was drawn and to belong,

an image was attained;

for social status they did long,

so smiled through the pain.

*Inspired by an article about how Victorian Era women purposely infected themselves with tuberculosis because it gave them pale skin, made them thin, and put color in their cheeks/lips-DESPITE the threat of death. There wasn't a line they wouldn't cross in the name of beauty.*