"Red Lipstick Sells Best In Times Of War"

poem based on a painting by Emma Knight

Make the boys forget 

they may run into a  

rainstorm of bullets 

the next time out.

Red Lipstick Sells Best In Times Of War
by Emma Knight

  

Make them forget  

some won’t come back  

whole and some  

won’t come back at all. 

  

So wear that deep red 

on your lips, the right amount  

of mascara, and smile 

as warmly as you can. 

  

Give them a moment 

to forget about the  

no-man’s land and 

the hell of battle. 

  

Let them know  

there will be an ending, 

that they can come home 

to kiss your red lips.