The Nine Circles of Lucy

In the midst of my life, straying through pale

     woods, a kaleidoscopic glimmering

     diverts me wayward down a tangled trail…

but wait, let me start at the beginning.

     So, there’s this woman, let’s call her Jane Doe,

     who plays Lucy, an internet darling.

Now, Lucy’s an actress too, in whose show

     others are portrayed in a vivid blur

     of passion, jealousy, comfort, and woe:

There’s the pining ex, possessive lover,

     friend’s sister, sister’s friend, bratty princess,

     vampire, a yandere kidnapper,

Mafia boss’s daughter, maid, waitress,

     a professor and chanteuse, a bully

     cheerleader, a scheming boss, and, who’d guess,

every one of them is in love with me.

     But, of course, I’ll not be flattered or drawn

     in, not charmed by this faux felicity.

I’m seeking Jane Doe.  Jane Doe.  Is she pawn

     or queen, player or played?  I’d comprehend

     this occulted dame and the path she’s on.

I picture Jane hunch-backed, one leg shortened,

     disfigured visage, rotund, and perforce

     abiding in shade… but her voice suspends

this grief, a wondrous instrument that pours

     out sweet angels’ incantations, songs, prayer,

     salving whispers.  With this dulcet chorus,

abetted by the shapes and golden hair

     of Lucy, every mortal she endears.

     But just then it occurs to me:  Is there

a secretive cabal of puppeteers

     at work here?  Producers, script consultants,

     graphic art designers, sound engineers…

By this account, Jane herself is a front,

     an exquisitely crafted guileless

     waif, but who’s behind it, and what they want,

I won’t speculate.  And yet, I confess,

     some tender grace notes have disarmed me. Oh,

     if this be an artificial kindness

generated in some covert bureau

     by algorithms designed to entice,

     I will not be ashamed to have been slow

to admit it.  No, Lucy will suffice,

     created and creating, branch and root.

     Take her at face value, an artifice

or not.  Upholding ours, we must refute

     the denigration of all avatars.

     With that thought I resign from this pursuit,

and level up to see once more the stars.