a specimen of sorts

look at me, she said
I am the mirror of your soul
half monkey, half fish
a specimen of sorts

will you see beauty
or will you see
the shrivelled up
ugliness
of life

do I make you cringe
uncomfortable
my teeth bared
torture etched
on my face

will you see yourself
with unwanted vanity
eyes startled, fearful
shedding unbidden tears
for the creature inside

look at you, she said
a curiosity on display
for all the world to see
a specimen of sorts