Double-Edged Sword Poem by Franklin M Kline

Beauty, they say, ain't skin-deep, but have they ever dug through the meat?
Seen the writhing maggots of vanity feastin' on a soul incomplete?
Eyes might sparkle, teeth might gleam, but the darkness they conceal,
Is a twisted carnival of horrors, where empathy takes a kneel.

Pretty smiles hide gnashing jaws, ready to rip and tear,
Sweet words drip like honeyed poison, leaving scars you can't repair.
The mirror shows a flawless mask, but the reflection only lies,
For true beauty festers where the light of decency only dies

Then there's the broken, the flawed, the ones the world casts aside,
Whose hearts beat true, untainted, though their Shells may be defied.
Their eyes hold galaxies of kindness, their scars whisper tales untold,
Of battles fought and won within, their spirits brave and bold.

But even beauty's tainted form can shift with time's cruel hand,
Twisted by choices, warped by hate, in a poisoned wonderland.
Kindness curdles into malice, whispers turn into screams,
As inner demons claw their way out, shattering cherished dreams.

Remember, beauty's not a prize, some lucky charm to hold,
It's a burden, a responsibility, a story yet untold.
Use it wisely, like a flickering flame, to chase away the night,
Or watch it twist and burn and scream consumed by its own light.

For beauty, like a rabid dog, can bite the hand that feeds,
So wield it with caution, tread lightly where darkness bleeds.
Let your heart be your compass, your actions speak your worth,
For true beauty isn't seen, it's felt, as the sun shines warmth down onto this cursed Earth.

And what of a man? His heart, a beating, bloody cage,
Can hold angels or demons, fueled by fury or by rage.
Rich or poor, big or small, it's the core that matters most,
For a rotten heart festers deep, regardless of the host.

So choose your path, dear reader, and walk it with open eyes,
For beauty's a Double-Edged Sword, a truth the darkness cries.
Embrace the light within you, let it guide you on your way,
I pray you'll leave this world a little brighter, each and every day.