canvas and mirror

self-portrait with cats, with purple, with stacks of half-read books adorning my desk, with coffee, with mug, with yesterday's mug. self-portrait with guilt, with fear, with thick-banded silver ring, painted toes, and no make-up on my face. self- portrait with twins, with giggles, with sister at last, with epistrophy, with crepescule with nellie, with my favorite things. self-portrait with hard head, with soft light, with raised eyebrow. self- portrait voo-doo, self-portrait hijinks, self-portrait surprise. self-portrait with patience, with political protest, with poetry, with papers to grade. self- portrait as thaumaturgic lass, self-portrait as luna larva, self-portrait as your mama. self-portrait with self at sixteen. self-portrait with shit-kickers, with hip-huggers, with crimson silk, with wild mushroom risotto and a glass of malbec. self- portrait with partial disclosure, self-portrait with half-truths, self-portrait with demi-monde. self- portrait with a night at the beach, with a view overlooking the lake, with cancelled flight. self- portrait with a real future, with a slight chance of sours, with glasses, with cream, with fries, with a way with words, with a propositional phrase.