Ugly Baby

I saw a funny looking child today.

He lay cradled in his mother’s arms,

protruding forehead of no consequence.

He turned to me and smiled,

and I believed in childlike innocence then. 

In the purity of self image and self conception

before the world paints him ugly

and teaches him to hate himself. 

He smiles, and I smile back,

and at that moment he is the most

beautiful thing I have ever seen.