self portrait

his mirror is introspection
his reflection, a self-portrait of imperfection
every feature ricochets off the smooth glass surface and settles
enigmatically suspended in his dark pupils
inky pools surrounded by clear, bright indigo
every feature bled meticulously onto the page
each word, syllable, and letter captures attributes
encapsulated, they scatter across his folio
only to be rearranged flawlessly
echoing the image burned into his eyelids from looking too often
eyes cast downwards, daring a glimpse
he knows he shouldn’t
the creature he locks eyes with terrifies him
but he cannot look away
marred and mangled
(beautiful)
his bare reflection translated into words
uncorrupted and whole
he unapologetically divulges his demons
the sacred and the profane sit side by side
scrawled on each line,
illustrated ingenuously despite glaring flaws and
pollution smeared over his face, opaque
made transparent by his gaze and
purified by this curse
(his gift)
of candid self-examination and lucid artistry
sinister in its algidity
virtuous in its fidelity