(In this piece, the mirror becomes a gallery. Mío is an act of self-curation — a quiet defiance against every gaze that once claimed ownership. What was once painted for others is now sacred, deliberate, and hers alone.)

———————-

Me maquillo
con una paz.

Respiro profundo,
tocando mi labial,
sabiendo que ninguno
me la va a quitar.

Esto es pa’ mí.
Todo para mí.

Soy una obra de arte.
He esperado tanto tiempo
para ponerte en exhibición,
sin temor, sin pensar
en los demás.

Sin miedo de que algún hombre
vuelva a posar sus manos
sobre tus lindas pinturas.

Ya no.
Todo esto.

Todo lo pinto para mí.
Y nadie me lo quitará sino yo.

English (translation / companion version)

I paint my face
in peace.

I breathe deep,
fingers on my lipstick,
knowing no one
can take this from me.

This is for me.
All of it, for me.

I am a work of art.
I’ve waited so long
to put you on display,
without fear, without thought
of anyone else.

No longer afraid
that some man will reach
for your lovely paintings.

No more.
All of it—
I paint it for me.

And no one will take it away
but me.