we watched and were awed at the war that she waged with herself. and we saw that she swayed with the weight. of her father and brothers and boyfriends who piled like a landfill. and swallowed her smile and her gait. till at five o'clock sunday she purged them away. and shift it all into gray. like cops conceal holsters beneath their lapels. she hid dangerous things. but she downplayed them well. and instead chose to focus on twinkle and shine. while her watch ticked off seconds and bang was in time. for the party she there when she turned twenty-nine. so welcome to twinkle and shine. as an encore she faded away. stepped out of the party and into the street. she had nowhere to go. what does she say to the relatives who came to see how she had grown. and who could have known. that the time was approaching when she'd be alone. yeah who could have known. that the time was approaching when little miss wonderful stepped out on her own