The Girl Who Had A Window For A Face

In darkened days
Of winter, May
–who had a window for a face–
Was in her room;
The curtains drawn.

Red and yellow socks
And a picture of
A fish that died
When she was eight.
And the plate from
Last night’s toast.

She liked to stay
Inside, did May
–she had a window for a face–
And play her records
From her favorite bands.

“They’ll all see in,”
Said May.
“See what I’m thinking.”

But May had to leave,
At least once in a while.
She drew down her eyes,
Lipsticked on a red smile.

She pretended that she
Was an ord’nary girl,
And threw back the drapes,
And went out in the world.

She talked to her teachers,
And the kids at the school.
The butcher, the baker,
Lifeguards at the pool.

They can see in!
Said May, who was fraught.
They can see what I think,
And see what I’ve thought!

But no one she met
Really seemed much to mind:
Some were polite,
Some were old-fashioned kind.

And back in her room,
With her headphones on, May
Thought of the people
She’d met on that day.

No nasty words said,
Nor foul comments blurted;
She could have sworn
That a boy might have flirted.

And little by little,
The truth it drew nearer:
The people she’d met
Used her face as a mirror.