black hair braided
pulled tightly back
severity tempered
by an explosion of flowers
the rainbow halo frames
a flamboyant madonna of sorrows

the camera doesn’t capture
her soul, her certain spirit
owns the lens
controls the exposure
we are her subject
suspended in time
exposed beneath
her intense attention
her focused scrutiny

her gaze gives life to her portrait
posed, poised and passionate
disconcerting in her directness
dark eyes defined
by darker brows

(and she is …?)

© Claire Griffin 2016

face : #introtopoetry : day 2 : alliteration