Personification of a Photograph

A photograph visited me today.
It climbed out from beneath the dictionary of songs
Which sits atop my litany desk.
It wore different shades of gray
Monochrome, like his voiceless monotone--a boy.

Girl, you're insane.
You'll take your nickel paper and paint it pale,
Like you always do.
Frame the face of a league of words.
Build a shrine with toothpick beams.

The face smirked at me but did not speak.
I propped him up and begged for him to stay.

Against your bedpost he'll be tacked.
Girl, throw that thought away.
Burn it like a fallen leaf.
With it rake mercurial froth
And watch the bubbles roll astray.

Myriad smoky hues are planted on the page,
A four-by-six rectangular body
Sans heart, sans arms, sans legs.

Blue eyes are empty, wan, and bronze hair stony black.
Distortion feeds the compromise;
The smile is drawn intact.