Pose

You timed yourself
to the illusion
so perfect
the careless light
in your eyes
elegant posture
unforced arch
of your neck
renaissance madonna
smile
for the camera's
splitsecond shutter
that seeing
photographs later
I couldn't help
wondering if
I'd only imagined
those shuddering moments
between
shutter releases
when your body shook
with cold
and your eyes
were filled with
nothing
but misery
and you turned
from the glaring
lens and lights
to pull
from inside
the composure
to face down
the camera
again.
It was a beautiful
smile.
I admired
the skill
it took
to make it look
natural.
But I care now
far more for the
unrecorded memory
of you in the
real moments
between.