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Amidst the chaos and mid-day heat
Walked the woman from my street;
Child on arm, in a hurried pace;
Often, did I wonder about that face.
When suddenly the wind, one day by chance
Blew her veil away so I could steal a glance!
But to my shock and horror, what did I see?
No goddess or maiden of mine phantasy...
Instead, like some fearful gift of prophecy,
Stared the hideous features of a banshee!
Flat nosed, buck teeth, to her gender a disgrace,
No semblance of womanly charm did I trace!
She looked me straight and wondered why,
I would not meet her eye to eye!
My head lowered, I looked past her,
Like some guilty schoolboy who did err.
It was then in my quest for beauty and norm,
That I realised the existence of the plain form!
Alas! Accustomed to beauty from my prime,
I ask you dear sir, was this a crime?
And, yes - if beauty should be perfect,
Can its structure appear defect?
Can a bird with broken wings,
Be truly a bird even if it sings?
That disfigurement to humanity - what an insult!
Was it atonement from some past result?
Yes, I retreated; was it wrong somehow?
For, finer tastes, did not the Creator endow?
Why - that face from my mind I just could not weed,
Surely, such 'beauty' merits from a past deed!
Stemming from an earlier cruel life,
And who be the wretch to have this wife?
One day, saw I the husband from afar,
In form majestic, like a shining star,
How this tricky puzzle came to be,
This, I was determined to solve and see!
Can a man wear a waning moon like Siva?
To be living thus with this plain Diva!
Yes, nerves of steel he must possess;
Married to this maid, I do confess!
Was it kindness, charity or an act of duty?
That he decided to take on this 'beauty'?
For, from his mind, how could he erase?
Even in dreams of her fearful embrace?
Strangely, despite their differing views
And coupled with years of use and abuse,
Not once, did she ever sulk or shirk,
But with smiles, sent him off to work.
Yet another time, did I observe;
An endearing moment to preserve!
When, brushing off residual crease and dirt,
She gently straightened his collar and shirt!
While in affectionate turn, he touched her chin,
With tenderness brimming from eyes within!
And as she blushed, did I discover
That "inner beauty" of love's power!
So rich and pure that cannot dilute
A beauty complete and absolute!
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Inner beauty
