To be in the face of Beauty- <br />and she was Beauty- <br />is intimidating; <br />there is the desire to <br />not be close <br />for being close intensifies the <br />sense of inadequacy. <br /> <br />It is a shock to be in the face of beauty <br />and there arises <br />at least for me <br />the desire to find just one flaw <br />to cling to. <br /> <br />I re-run that fleeting face <br />back through my mind <br />to find the way to sanity. <br /> <br />I don't have this view about Nature's beauty <br />which evidently I tolerate; <br />but personal beauty <br />is alive <br />inches from me everyday <br />which I face <br />at the elevator door, <br />which opens like <br />the doors of heaven <br />and there she is; <br />she and I <br />eye level to eye level <br />alone. <br /> <br />The awkward turn <br />to face the front; <br />arm-wrestling with the desire <br />to turn around to have another look; <br />the eyes themselves still resonate <br />with the image set <br />deep in the retina. <br /> <br />I can hear her breathe; <br />we two alone; <br />the elevator rising <br /> <br />I feel her there <br />at one point holding her breath <br />matching my withholding too. <br /> <br />Finally my floor; <br />relieved <br />I flee <br />confused <br />again by too much Beauty. <br /> <br />And she <br />I am sure <br />faired no better; <br />the tension was electric. <br /> <br />I sure she felt <br />I did not like her <br />nary ever a smile for her <br />stony silence <br />emanating from the back <br />of my neck. <br /> <br />I see her everyday <br />and nothing changes. <br /> <br />She is Beauty <br />and I am <br />intimidated. <br /> <br />We cannot be close. <br />or even friends. <br />It is that way I think <br />because <br />some people <br />churn my soul <br />especially the truly <br />beautiful ones.<br /><br />Lonnie Hicks<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/too-close-and-beauty-hurts/
