Compliance.
So let the grand masquerade start.
Now locked safely away,
restricted and mute is her duly subdued heart,
neatly boxed,
disciplined,
strongly tied
and nicely presented to show whole compliance.
Her own pictured hopes deleted by duty she lays
dreaming aside,
and decides to accede.
With reality not in the way the play can proceed.
All seems accomplished, she bows to demand,
or request, face set,
made-up mask hardened into a smile she folds
away dreams
and stands almost reliably ready.
The world will see only a token of what she feels
in an acceptable show.
Done now and dusted, tranformance complete,
she will enter
to give an unflagging muted performance of brave
yet substitute love.
Staging then set she emerges for her rehearsed
but challenging part,
and submissive, begins her well learnt behaviour.
Yet never seen because bleeding and caged
deep inside,
is the beaten remains of a life daily sacrificed
in striving to please.
So need a housewife\'s masquerade start ?