Beauty by Kari Morris

Beauty

by Kari Morris

“Fly” my lover said,

“fly into my eyes

to see yourself.

You are beauty

and nothing less

no mistakes

no wretchedness

not a blemish

pure loveliness.

My treasured jewel.”

But I did not fly.

I let go of His nail-pierced hand

and looked in the mirror

and wept at the lie.

I could not see my lover’s sight

although I tried both day and night

I could not see his eye’s delight

all I could see was my heart’s spite.

I could not feel his sweet caress,

I could not hear his heart’s distress,

his mourning at his loveliness

held captive by a lie.

At last my desperate lover knew

to heal

I’d have to break

in two.

The lie had grown

so real

so true

I was the mirror.

I was the view.

With mourning sobs

of deep duress

His strong fist flew into my breast

my flesh was pierced

the pieces flew

my breath went numb

my skin turned blue

I begged

I yelled

with blood-filled might,

“My lover, why?

You took my sight!”

I gnashed

I mourned

with death’s despise.

but stopped myself-

and noticed

I was looking

in His eyes.

He looked at me and began to grin.

He’d broken my mirror

so I’d look at Him.

In His reflection

the lie wasn’t there

my senses were back

and I was fair.

I was beauty

and nothing less

no mistakes

no wretchedness

not a blemish

pure loveliness.

His treasured jewel.

“Fly,” my lover said,

“fly into my eyes

to see yourself.”

And I flew.

© 2003 Kari Morris