Rose Mary Boehm: “On Reflection”

On Reflection

How is it done? In coloured pencils with washes
and masks, blenders and frisket film.
And if I take your face and mask your eyes,
leave them white or fill them with ash, what then?
Where will you go when I pull off that frame,
how will you round out if I withhold
the shading, will water wash on wax
and will your skin fall off when I use
the eraser on that highlight I left in your hair?

The perfume on the tux you wore
when you were speaking before your peers
is getting old and brackish.
The wardrobe is full of past events
for which I do not take responsibility. When
you wanted your image back it had crumpled.

About the Author: Rose Mary Boehm is a German-born British national living and writing in Lima, Peru, and author of two novels as well as seven poetry collections. Her poetry has been published widely in mostly US poetry reviews (online and print). She was twice nominated for a ‘Pushcart’, once for ‘Best of Net’. Her latest: DO OCEANS HAVE UNDERWATER BORDERS? (Kelsay Books July 2022), WHISTLING IN THE DARK (Cyberwit July 2022), and SAUDADE (December 2022) are available on Amazon. A new MS, LIFE STUFF, has been scheduled by Kelsay Books for February 2023. https://www.rose-mary-boehm-poet.com/

Image Credit: Honoré Daumier “Head of a Man V” Public domain image courtesy of Artvee

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