“The truth will bury you in a New York minute.”

You’re now a pretty face; your mind must have simplified

in the transition. Just be olive skin, bee-stung lips, and long

lashes. Fool them with your handbags and sunglasses. 

Your mind can still move fast in heels. They will forget this. 

They will think you are sloppy in your plotting—

that you will teeter in your stilettos and spill tea

all over the next hopeful Queen Bee, they will call you

Liar, and believe whatever propaganda was in those

messages. You have nothing to hide—you’d mark

yourself with a scarlet A, you’re not afraid of shame.

They could never respect all the pieces you have 

moving around the board. You’re the soothsayer

they close their ears to; you see their secrets.



Marisa Silva-Dunbar’s work has been published in Sledgehammer Lit, Better Than Starbucks Magazine, Chantrelle’s Notebook and Pink Plastic House. Marisa is the founder and EIC of Neon Mariposa Magazine. She has work forthcoming in the Eyes Wide Shut anthology “Denmark.” You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @thesweetmaris.