How I transformed myself

I walked smartly down the corridor,

and from the corner of my eye

I inspected my reflection

In the reflecting glass wall

overlooking the runaway

at Sahar airport.

All around me,

people were dressed in their best,

and looked beautiful.

(After all, they were travelling abroad.)

Only I was ungainly,

too fat,

and my stomach protruded.

What a strange, unattractive gait I  had!

Then I thought – 

let me pretend

that the reflection is someone else,

that the woman in the glass wall

is a stranger.

Suddenly I saw

the woman in the glass wall

transformed.

She was beautiful and appealing

and even glamorous.

and I felt much better.