A Cyber Friend Poem by RIC BASTASA

she keeps saying that she is
ugly
and so she keeps the secret
about her name
her existence
she insists she does not exist
for she is air
but she is everywhere
she is the laughter of those who
mock her
she is short, dark, thick lipped
bow legged
she is nothing she is a blank page
a stain for the moment
dirt
i tell her, i am not a discriminating bug
i am like her
once without courage for what i am
but i learned
by heart the virtue of honesty
yes whatever that is
i love myself and i am open
for those who can
have the courage of loving me
for what i am

the freedom gives me what
beauty there is
it is in the heart
not in the arm not in the body
not in the brain.

emote, that 's me.