Faces in Photographs

Millions of them spanning
Nearly two hundred years,
Living, dead, or long dead,

Equally still patterns
Formed by reflected light,
The photographed faces

Are everywhere, growing
In number each minute,
Each second, more and more.

Here is someone smiling.
Here’s a heartrending stare.
Here’s one that was lifeless

Already when captured.
Here’s one mostly makeup.
Here’s one posed, one candid.

They don’t stop. They keep on
Getting made, the living
And the fake. Still. Faces.