Red Poppies In A Black Field

She spun and smiled,
The girl in the
Poppy-patterned dress.
She sings, her curls
Bouncing to the beat,
Holding together the
Parts of her that
Were least broken.
She did not wish to ruin the night
For all who sat before her.
They said that she was
So beautiful and so grown.
But she took them by the hand
As they lead her through
Dance after dance of lies,
Her eyes sparkling
Like the sequins on her dress.
But she was stubborn,
And shook off their compliments.
For they do not know,
They do not know,
The difference between
Face beauty, and the beauty within.