Beauty and the Beast

     She looks at him
     a large nose on a fire-scarred face
     short and wiry
     hair the color of ashes
     eyes dead brown
A monster

     He looks at her
     tall athletic figure
     long curly blonde hair
     sparkling blue eyes
     perfect complexion
            A beauty

     They are alone
            they talk
                   get to know one another
                            They both like hockey
                                                            poetry
                                                                      country music

     She sees that he is not a monster
                                                  Underneath he is intelligent
                                                                                     exciting
                                                                                               creative
                                                                                                         gentle

                                                  He is not a handsome prince
                                      He is the beast
                         She leaves with someone else
               This is real life
     not a fairy tale
                                                                                     The Wolf