Self Portrait

If you’re an artist; painting your picture;
just how will you appear?
If you desire that you be a fixture;
what is it you have to fear?

Our self image; what others see;
when vanity holds the canvas;
unlike that mirror’s image of me;
for, mirrors don’t understand us.

It’s more than a picture of a face;
it involves emotions that hide;
even a good picture may disgrace;
if it has evil dwelling inside.

Character can’t always be disguised;
it often throws out a hint, or two;
sometimes a portrait is full of lies;
giving a distorted point of view.

I let vanity sit in, for my painting;
a picture’s worth a thousand words;
I don’t want all the others complaining;
for such would be, more than absurd.

I always want to be, and look my best;
but my image means energy too;
which makes for a complicated quest;
in order to give the right view.

When in doubt, portray the truth;
even if not, what you want it to be;
you’ll certainly never remain in youth;
and the truth shall set you free.

Monty   10/25/21.   #  769