0157face Beyond Face Poem by Michael Shepherd

Sometimes a moment of the highest grace -
which comes as unannounced as does our sleep -
allows our vision, resting on some face,
from the familiar, pass to unknown deep:

and there, beyond the contours made by thought
is shown to us a finer, nobler brow;
magnificent, heroic, wise; yet not -
and this so moving - far from whom we know;

this wonder makes me humble; questioning
what duty might this vision lay on me,
who's seen that self in self's own fashioning:
am I to act, or simply let it be?

But this is certain: all man's self-respect
be known, should self in others so reflect.