When the Mirror’s the Enemy

A Poem

Image by Alexandr Ivanov from Pixabay

hair like a halo, strands catching gold,
lips caught in the mold of a smile,
skin as unblemished as porcelain —
but you don’t see anything of it, do you?

the monster in your eyes reflects
in a double-image courting perfection
even though you spot every wrinkle
puckered in the trap of stress

“what a lovely girl,” they say
when they don’t know a thing
because beauty to them is simple,
just a lucky break in an unfair world

this world says everyone is beautiful —
but you know the truth, it lingers in your eyes,
and you hate every speck of red in your skin
despite no one else noticing the difference

you stare at your other self —
she looks so sure of herself, doesn’t she —
but you know she’s lying, faking for attention,
and trying so hard not to fall to pieces

someone soon might call you an angel,
but you would swallow the words
like a bad medicine, bitter to taste,
even as you…