Chimera Effect

*author’s note: this poem touches on themes of body dysmorphia and emotional abuse*

The Purge reflects back,

swirls clockwise

when the flush handle presses down

into sweet abyss, dark pipes swallow

esophageal contractions

squeeze, squeeze into that dress—

give it away to your skinnier friends,

stepmother says

The Mirror reflects back,

A Chimera,

Lion in front

Goat in middle

Serpent in back

Who will slay the beast?

In the brain, the fusiform gyrus recognizes

the contrapositive image

of your reflection flipped—

left lobe sees the right side

right lobe sees the left side

science says

if only Echo knew how

Narcissus wilts

Lion roars

through the looking glass:

I am the you that sees

Goat breathes fire:

I am the you that burns

Serpent whispers:

I am the you that deceives

Waxed floor tile beneath knees

bows to a porcelain god

Mosaic fragments, reflects back

Pegasus pink

The Fighter mounts dizzy

one Future, shining day

who will slay the beast