One word becomes one idea, becomes one sentence, becomes one
poem, becomes one story. It must start from just “one word”. Today my one word
is “Mirrors”.
MIRRORS
As
I walked past the old antique shop, the only one in the neighborhood, I stopped
to peek into the window. I love antiques. Every item told a story. Whether it
was a piece of wooden furniture, an old tarnished photo frame, a worn out
clock, a porcelain doll, chipped serving platters, ornate jewelry, or exquisite
vases, it didn’t matter. There was a special tale hidden within each item that
held the secrets of its time and the emotions of its owners. These pieces came
to life within the walls of the antique shop.
Suddenly,
my eyes came across an attractive elderly woman who stood in front of a long
armoire mirror and stared at her reflection for quite a long time. I watched as
she turned and twisted, moved closer and farther away again, then stood still and
stared into it for a second time. She leaned in closer and gazed at her face.
She ran her aging fingers across her forehead, her cheeks, her lips, her
chin…then pressed out the many folds and wrinkles she discovered around her
eyes. When she turned to walk away, she
noticed me staring at her, and invited me into the shop with a wave of her
hand. As I approached her, she asked me to stare into the mirror and tell her
what I saw. I said I saw a reflection of “me”. She asked how old I was. I told
her I was twenty-five. She replied, “When you get to be my age pretty young
lady, and you look into a mirror, you will no longer recognize your image as
‘me’. One day you will understand. You will see someone you no longer recognize
staring back at you with foreign eyes.” Then she walked away with a sad smile
on her face and exited the antique shop.
I
continued to stare into the mirror, hypnotized by my own reflection. The mirror
spoke to me through subtle images, and I listened as it taught me about life.
It showed me that mirrors are reminders of who we are, who we once were, and
who we may become. It explained quite clearly that mirrors reveal stories of
our past, present and future, through reflections and images that tell no lies.
MIRRORS
“Look at me”,
the mirror said
I’ll tell you
things you’ll want to know
I’ll show you
images of your life
The past, the
present, the future “glow”
You’ll see
reflections of passing time
Aged perfection,
like pricey wine
You may see
tears and smiles, my love
You may see the
innocence of a precious dove
You may see evil
and madness too
But keep in
mind, you will see “you”
So “Look at me”,
the mirror said
Study your
likeness; then forge ahead
At times you
won’t like what you see
It is then you
must act, and set yourself free
Embrace the
stories the mirror tells
Embrace the
glories the mirror sells
Purchase those
images and make them yours
You’ll have
bought the keys to your life’s doors
Fear not what I
tell you, or what you see
Come closer my
dear, and speak with me
You see the eyes
that stare back at you?
The hair, the
nose, the full lips too?
It’s the
mirror’s truth; it will never lie
Come say hello,
and not good-bye
This is your
life, the way it should be…
When you look in
the mirror
What do you
see?
Say it proudly,
dear!
Say it loud and
clear!
Shout it out and
say, “This is ME I see!”
