May 5, 2004. © Daniela Violin, All rights reserved

beauty
is not marred by subtle reflections
on shattered windows
that reflect light unevenly

or by a child's fingerprints
pressed, you feel, almost delibrately
into the exact spot
where you view yourself,
albeit unclearly
every morning, as if by holy grail

you are disgusted
though there is nothing to disgust
you see the shattered parts
and neglect the whole
as if reflecting what you see
on the broken mirrors of life
gives you comfort

beauty
is not sacrificed
by ill thoughts of self
or by ill thoughts of others about self
it is not overcome by
features of the physical
or environmental discrepancies
that silently are a part
of all us humble mortals

beauty
is everywhere
in everyone and
everything

if seen through distorted perception
it is the way you see yourself
that is shattered
the window is the culprit
not you