The 99 Poem Challenge
Fox-Trot-9

69. La'Tuin — Beauty's Vanity

Gaze into this magic mirror black
   And tell me what you see within;
      Pray you do not linger in the space,
Because sometimes you can't come back!

Bleak it is to see the face you lack
   Or view the face of a dead twin;
      So your hand will touch upon that face
As though an unseen hand did smack

You in frustration as the payback
   For the discontent of your grin;
      Such becomes the defect of disgrace
In hurtful vanity's attack!

Ah, that life has for you on the wrack
   Of fading beauty just the thin
      Remainder of your delicate trace
Will surely cause the mirror's crack!

So turn your eyes aside and backtrack
   Unto the touching of your skin;
      So, you see, it's still as smooth as lace;
You're not a witch, you maniac!

Gaze into this magic mirror black
   And tell me what you see within;
      Pray you do not linger in the space,
Because sometimes you can't come back!

(To be continued...)

A/N: The La'Tuin, created by Laura Lamarca, consists of 4-line stanzas with an 'abca, abca' rhyme scheme that is consistent throughout each stanza. Stanzas 2, 3 etc. must all follow the same rhyme sounds as the first stanza. With the first stanza being repeated again at the end of the piece. It contains a minimum of 4 stanzas, with no maximum length limit.

Meter: Syllabic (9-8-9-8)
Rhyme: ABCA abca abca... ABCA