Weapons of Choice (A Villanelle)

With paint to seal and onion skin
each artist draws a line
designed to hide the pain within

the heart of youth where scars begin
to either flame or grow benign.
With paint to seal and onion skin

an artist quells offensive din
& slander caused to undermine
designs that hide the pain within

the voice of reason is akin
to whom new discourse must align.
With paint to seal and onion skin

we’ve drawn historic links of thin
disguise to hide civility’s decline
designed to hide the pain within.

Each war an artist joins to win
unmasks a lie & helps combine
with paint to seal & onion skin
designs that hide the pain within.