The poem was written in the Spring of 2024. It is being presented in a rough form. It’s been revised several times since this first version. Those drafts will be provided at a later date. The poem was written after reflection on beauty and the cognitive bias known as the “halo effect.”

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Beauty is a double-edged sword,  

Without the boundaries of a handguard.  

The wielder may pierce and slash many  

but will always slip, to draw their own blood.  

It’s said, “love is a battle field,”  

and, “all is fair in love and war.”  

Without boundary, there is no protection from harm.  

Oh the self-destructive, beautiful disaster.  

Even the best swordsperson cannot wield such power

without losing grip.  

Even beauty must have its limits,  

The flaw may stay unseen, yet will still bleed.