the eye takes in
a mess and the brain
tidies up
assesses threat
knows instantly
the angle of the mouth
that means violence

we are born
to identify faces
mimic a smile
win favor
from our loved ones

more than a trick
of the light
more than survival
or psychosis
ancient mechanism
in a modern world sees
a sly grin
in the grill of a car
Jesus on toast

you look in the mirror
you look at a painting
a mountain a cloud
your mother
recognize yourself
your self
your
self