No Less Effort (a villanelle)

Effort wears a costly dress
I hate the volume of my hair
I fear that you will love me less

I keep competing with my mess
And damaging the calming air
Effort wears a costly dress

A sentence starts with "I confess"
And, rapid, winds its way from there
I fear that you will love me less

So there I purposefully press
Until you grant an ill-masked glare
Effort wears a costly dress

With conflict I've had great success
I've earned division of this pair
I fear that you will love me less

There's terror there beyond the rest
And with the best I can't compare.
Effort wears a costly dress:
I fear that you will love me less.