[Tsaritsa]

a defiant pulse of pride.
a hollow breath of determination.
an empty stare of vanity.

"i'm"

"so"

"confident."

the hiss of a flame.
the eruption of magma.
the ticking of a clock.

"i'm"

"so"

"powerful."

a treacherous reflection.
the melody of a siren.
an irrepressible urge.

"i'm"

"so"

"beautiful."

no one can see,
no one can know.
i'm a fraud,
that came to life.
a liar's painting,
a deceiver's poem,
a trickster's sculpture.
a shadow of a person,
their reflection in glass.
a fragile creation,
that might shatter or implode.

"i"

"am"

"empty."