Coloring the New Me

Out of nowhere, I feel my eyelids and cheeks burn.

I look in the mirror and see sunset colors around my eyes. 

Shades of red brushed with light violet tips when I turn.

Beautiful and ugly.

What happened?

Is she me?

Was it the pollen in the air?

Was it stress from life?

Was it something I ate, I fear?

During this strange Covid year, nothing is strange any more.

I attend Zoom meetings with my demon eyes.

I receive concerned stares from shoppers at the store. 

Day after day.

The redness disappears, replaced by dark eggplant purple mixed with streaks of grey.

Will I be disfigured? 

During Covid times, does it matter anyway?

Day after day.

The colors fade into dark brown and my skin starts to peel and swell tight.

My flaky skin shimmers like white snowflakes at night.

Then one day.....

All is gone.

My skin is soft and sparkly--fleshy with a slight pink dew. 

During this strange Covid year, I shed myself and became something else.

I am new.

I am new.

I am new.