In the Eye of the Beholder-POTD

Quote --The ugly girl cries in front of the mirror, She does not want to adorn herself as no one cares, Till her blind lover tells her how beautiful she looks, She hugs him, kisses him and finds her beauty in him. -- unknown An old sweater, stitched long ago by my wife’s loving hands, might feel old to some eyes—but to me it’s warmth and faith that still withstands. My novice painting endeavors, Laughed as worthy of hanging in the garage or a closet, The time and excitement I had working on them, Reflects my passion and an artwork of my dreams. Grandparent's face lined deep with time and laughter is scorned by those who only see scars; to me it’s a sky of constellations, each wrinkle a roadmap to the heart. The hillside shows its wounds to others— ash-choked ferns, a world burnt away. I see wild soul among the ruin— a story that the storm can’t fray. That old book, pages dog-eared and worn, might look shabby to a passer-by. But to me it glitters in amber light— a whispered memory that will never die. If ever voices deride what you hold dear, simply—gently—remember: The rose that blooms in midnight’s hush, The song known only by your mind, And the face that loves you best in this world— imperfect, true, and defined By the gaze that cherishes it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.