The photograph

Someone hurries away from the photographer

 Panic stricken of appearance

Combing hair tight to the bathroom mirror

Practicing their best smile for a while, until

They appear once again in their mind; beautiful

Staring in desperation,

Looking for an image suddenly hard to find;

Teasing like the hands of a cruel lover

Until serendipitously a different view comes clear       

 Taking hold in imagination, one by one

 Battles lost and battles won, and the scars  

Suddenly appear, but quickly fade away

 Melting in hallucination in their mental vision

Standing frozen and erect, eyes now softened,  

As if in recognition of a long lost friend

They smile again in appreciation, standing proud, and  

 Ready for the photograph to be taken