It's obvious

    beauty is a postage stamp，

    a composed self-portrait

    of Frida Kahlo

    wearing a simple necklace，

    an image chosen by the USPS

    not because it was like one she painted

    for Trotsky. Of course

    beauty could not include

    imagery of hammer and sickle¹

    or black monkey leering

    over her shoulder or parrot

    twisted under her chin.

    And not the one with snakes.

    Not the one of her

    all butched-up， hair cropped short，

    wearing one of Diego's suits

    after they split for the final time.

    Not one with wheelchair， spinal-brace，

    or scar down her long trunk.

    Forget the one of her cloven wide open，

    a jungle of history and myth， of poetry

    burgeoning² forth³ from her innermost.

    Most definitely not

    the one of her wearing the collar

    of thorns in memory

    of Jesus and Trotsky

    and revolution

    lost.