Portraiture

Pride is a crown on my head.

Confidence is a wig that cascades, falling over my shoulders

and frames the mask of Contentment that I wear.

It is porcelain, smooth without blemish or scars; perfect.

Pretty rosebud lips cleverly deliver what you want to hear.

A jewel dangles from a chain around my neck. 

Its a locket. 

Inside the beautiful engravings is a picture and a map.

Beneath the golden trinket I wear a breastplate stolen from a coat of armor worn by a King.

It does not belong to me but I claim it as mine. The metal is shiny and strong but it is much too large for me. It's uncomfortable.

My feet are adorned with Desire.

One shoe laced with Righteousness, the other with Selfishness.

My heart is a heavy stone; Tar clings to it's chambers.

Thick and sticky, it spreads like a cancer.

With gloves of Self-Reliance I pull, peel, and try to pry the mess off of my heart

but it just stains and ruins the gloves.
09-23-2010