Petroleum Jelly

Yesterday, I

painted my nails bright red,

braided my unkempt strands of copper-colored hair,

dipped my pale fingers

into that tub of petroleum

and felt how moist and warm

the jelly was.

Lingered for a few seconds,

got lost in the dampness for a moment,

made small circles around the Vaseline

and finally

dab a little of it

into my parched lips.

Parted them both

for a tinge of my magenta lipstick.

In front of the mirror,

I saw

two folds of flesh in the dark,

glistening as one.