Red Embellished Butts

Lipstick stained cigarette butts

in an overfull ashtray

wait for emptying

that never came,

just stacked with more

red embellished butts. Rank.

Each one fouled the air

with jeers

about these Instagram posts.

They want to believe

in perfect lives—

a mood board of life, unhinged.

I want all the defects, flaws

rotten eggs,

and a kink in the chain.