Seen and Not Seen

He would see faces in movies, on T.V.

In magazines, and in books

He thought that some of these faces

Might be right for him

And that through the years

By keeping an ideal facial structure

Fixed in his mind

Or somewhere in the back of his mind

That he might, by force of will

Cause his face to approach those of his ideal

The change would be very subtle

It might take ten years or so

Gradually his face would change it's shape

A more hooked nose, wider, thinner lips

Beady eyes, a larger forehead.

He imagined that this was an ability

He shared with most other people

They had also molded their faces

According to some ideal

Maybe they imagined that their new face

Would better suit their personality

Or maybe they imagined that their personality

Would be forced to change

To fit the new appearance

This is why first impressions are often correct

Although some people might have made mistakes

They may have arrived at an appearance

That bears no relationship to them

They may have picked an ideal appearance

Based on some childish whim

Or momentary impulse

Some may have gotten half-way there

And then changed their minds

He wonders if he too might

Have made a similar mistake