beautiful

she looks and sees a girl
with an ugly white face
and eyes too dull for a sparkle
and complains her legs go on for never
she says I want to be the subject
of many beautiful pictures
and i show her all of her beautiful pictures
but tell her she is like the rest of us
and she says she can't bear to see
her wretched hair that flows like an icy river
and empty lips that purse with anger
and i say i hope that someday
i will be as beautiful as you

June 26, 2001