Chimera (Poetry)

Beneath that cool white skin deep, poisoned rivers ran,
dark currents iced with loathing and deceit,
her face — a flawless mask — would fool most any man
to think he’d found perfection rare and sweet...
yet just below the painted surface lay
a well of spite, corruption and decay.

Her gaze was irresistible — such tender eyes
seemed the epitome of love sincere,
no hint of treachery betrayed her sleek disguise —
her lips were soft, her darling words rang clear,
she never faltered or forgot her lines,
her sculpted smile denied faint warning signs...

The clever veil she wove wore thin — its colours false —
as ugly rising tides at last broke through
the tune she danced to changed, became a swirling waltz
and doubt threw shadows, shifting, bruised with blue,
the image cracked, her true self was revealed —
a demon whose foul nature she’d concealed.

The fantasy destroyed — the bitter trick undone —
dismay and disillusion drowned all sense,
the very air felt shocked and hurt in silence hung,
bewildered by the skill of her pretence
and pondering, all wicked things apart,
how beauty can disguise a hateful heart.