rain

it’s cloudy
and there’s a storm brewing
i can feel it —
in my bones
and joints
and in the way my hair is curling
just slightly at the ends
from thick humidity
that sticks
to my soul.
and I want to open my umbrella
sharp black protection
with brightly colored polka dots
hot pink
yellow
orange -
i want to use it
to protect my skin
to stop the rain
from blurring the tears
making a mess of my face
eyeliner running
black
ugly
marks
covering freckles
signs of youth
gone.
but that would be too easy
and I’d learn nothing from this rain
and maybe, just maybe
the black
ugly
marks
need to be washed away.