the difficulty lies
in selecting the right shot

viewed obliquely,
we play the voyeur
peeking through curved lenses
a long look warped
in deceptive focus

but viewed directly,
gaze untempered
no sheen protects us
from pocks and scars
nor radiant wholeness
other eyes return our stare
or we theirs?
with revealing discomfit

subject mingled with object
don't look away
caress your own cheek
with extreme empathy