sometimes
i’ll get out of the bath,
and look in the mirror.
i’ll look at the way the water rims my lashes
and flecks through my eyebrows and hair,
catching the light with a glisten.
i’ll look at the way my lips are plumped and soft and rounded
like my eyes,
and i’ll look at the stark contrast of my dark features
and the highlights flashing across my pale skin.
sometimes,
just sometimes,
i look at myself and i think i could be beautiful.

© ailsey