Pretty does not do you justice

Not a love poem, just a like poem, like a like-like poem

Pretty does not do you justice

When they ask who I'm messaging

white glow, darting 'cross my face

that (damn traitorous) quirked up smile, playing my lips 

Eyes burning reflections with screen-light

and Joy without it's edges

I covet you 

And pull your screen to my chest

sayin'

"Oh, just a pretty girl I know."

But pretty does not do you justice

Not because I'm calling you a goddess

(knowing you reminds me of that,

just that,

how human I am)

But because you are so much more than the planes of your face

And the way your head tilts back when you're laughing

God, yes you are beautiful,

so beautiful and it's clear you don't, cannot, know it)

But that does not do you justice

And I,

a poet (if a messy one)

will not settle for any words that don't fit just quite right

for you are bright

in all its meanings

(bright eyed, bright minded, 

bright in that way captured by radiance,

I use radiance too often as a word)

Thoughtful and poised 

and witty in that way 

somehow (endearingly) cocky, yet humble all the same

my dear, my darling ( 

I have not earned the right to call you that,

)

pretty does not, will not do you justice.

You're sure-footed in those offbrand Doc Martins and (god, so beautiful it makes me a sinner. I covet you.) birch-trees and brilliance that grows beyond new beginnings 

(begin again with me)

If someone asks me again who I'm messaging

(who this poem is for)

I'll know it's insufficient to call you, but I'll probably just say (but not write, never write) 

"oh a pretty girl I know."

Author's Note

Nursing an unrequited crush!! I'll probably edit this one more later, so if it changes you'll know why. Let me know what you think?

Reviews

[Ursa major]

I love this poem. I am also a hopeless romantic and recently came into one of these situations. I love the little quotes in the poem!! I know that people can look at them selfs so differently than what is actually in front of the mirror. I know I can do that a lot. And I think you got that point down so well and true. Anyways great poem and love the depth.

[Richard Knox]

Jasper,
This is a wonderful poem! (I am a hopeless — hopeFUL? — romantic, too.) And I can relate completely to what you’ve written and expressed here. I’ve long believed that women are unaware of the many many little, subtle, seemingly insignificant things, whether physical or intangible, that we find beautiful about them, and that make them irresistible to those of us who truly love women. Nice work!