The Eternal Question

An entry for the February 2010 round of "The Humorous Poetry Contest" 

The Eternal Question


It's just around the corner, the day of the big ball.
Everyone will be there – the short, the fat, the tall.
I'll wear my finest dress with a tiara in my hair.
I mean - it wouldn't be a party if I wasn't there.

I'm preparing for the big night, trying my new frock.
I see I'm ready early as I glance at the clock.
The "eternal question" comes to me like that...
I wonder, "Does this dress make me look too fat?"

"Mirror, mirror on the wall," I call for its advice.
I paid a lot for this dumb dress.  Was it worth the price?
The mirror looks me over and has me turn around
but as I'm turning I can see the mirror has a frown.

Turning back I say "Enough – you have to tell the truth!"
The magic mirror cannot lie for that would be uncouth.
It hems and haws until I say "The truth you must avow!"
"You used to be quite heavy but it's all behind you now!"

Satisfied, I head out and think a Prince I will seduce.
I don't hear the mirror say "Good luck - with that caboose!"
The moral of this story is that sometimes the lines get blurred.
The truth isn't just what's spoken...
                                                      ...it's also what is heard!

An entry for the February round of "The Humorous Poetry Contest" 
Prompt: Open
Form: Quatrains  
Line Limit:  None
Line Count: 20