Beauty

Beauty is measured in

how long you stare when I walk into a room

how many times you rest your hand on my face

how quickly I can break your resolve

how long you avert your eyes.

I can no longer see the beauty

in the mirror in the morning

or in the compliments of friends

(they have to say that/

they know I’m sensitive/

they don’t mean it/I don’t care if they mean it)

What does it matter what others/I think?

Beauty is only beauty if you see it.

It’s not for me.