she was
beautiful in the
most unique and
special way as
only a complete
stranger can be…

at least in my mind…

every inch of
her skin glowed
as if reflecting
the shimmer from
her perfectly styled
shoulder-length hair…

I dreamed at
that moment of
a hundred years
of romance together
as we both
grew gracefully old…

and then she lit a cigarette…

and in that puff of smoke went an entire lifetime of perfection…

her smile now
becomes a snarl
with blackened teeth
tainting her yellow
hued rough lips…

at least in my mind…

– Rivenberg