Paradox

In the midst of life while crossing pale

woods, kaleidoscopic glimmerings

divert me wayward down a tangled trail

to where, surrounded by the glowing things,

there is a woman we will call Jane Doe

who plays a girl named Lucy as she sings,

and Lucy is an actress too, whose show

portrays all others in a vivid blur

of passion, comfort, jealousy, and woe.

There is the pining ex, possessive lover,

best friend’s sister, sister’s friend, brat princess,

vampire, yandere, crazed kidnapper,

mob leader’s daughter, maid, and waitress,

witch, cheerleader, chanteuse, refugee,

harassing boss, professor, and who’d guess,

each one of them’s in love with me.

But, no, I’ll not be flattered or drawn

in, not charmed by faux felicity.

I think of Jane herself – is she a pawn

or queen, her playing played?  I’d comprehend

this dame occulted and the path she’s on.

I picture Jane hunch-backed, ungainly bends,

disfigured visage, grizzled, who perforce

abides in shade, and yet her voice suspends

this grief, a wondrous instrument, the source

of angels’ incantations, song and prayer

to salving whispers.  With this dulcet chorus,

aided by the shapes and golden hair

of Lucy, every mortal she endears.

But just then it occurs to me:  Is there

a secretive cabal of puppeteers

at work?  Producer, script consultant,

graphic art design, sound engineers…

By this accounting, Jane herself’s a plant,

an exquisitely crafted guileless

waif, but who’s behind it, this I can’t

Discern or fathom, yet I must confess

some tender graces have disarmed me. Oh,

if this be artificial kindness

generated by some covert bureau’s

algorithms, crafted to entice,

I will not be ashamed that I was slow

to give her up.  No, Lucy will suffice,

created and creating, branch and root,

face value taken, whether artifice

or not.  Upholding ours, we must refute

the denigration of all avatars.

With that I do resign from this pursuit,

find out the strength to vanquish cellar bars,

surpassing what I’d thought beyond the pale,

and level up to see once more the stars.