Again
(or, The Abstraction)
How do you fill in the face
of him or her mean and nasty?
You start with the brows,
color them thick, and too dark.
Make the eyes all seeing,
yet, know they see not a thing.
The nose, make it too long,
bring it below the chin.
The mouth, wherever it fits
will be curved up,
with the assurance of—
all is me. Add hair, if
you want to. Then erase it
and start all over again.