The Eyes Of The Mirror

Tells stories of family events witnessed by the mirror

The Eyes of the Mirror

I don’t know where it came from

but as long as I can recall

It has hung just a little bit crooked

from a nail someone put in the wall

They didn’t give it much thought

as they assigned it a place on that wall

They knew it had to go somewhere

and made sure it never would fall

It has seen so many faces

of passersby both short and tall

It has taken their looks and returned them

from its place at the end of the hall

Everyone who passes before it

and throws it a cursory glance

is looking for some affirmation

of expression, clothing or stance

But there is something else to be seen

in the depths of each cursory glance

There is so much more that’s revealed

and none of it just happenstance

The reflection of tears from a mother’s love

as she croons to her new baby boy

Holding her son she weaves back and forth

humming songs from a heart filled with joy

The reflection of pride from a father

as he sees his son fully grown

Recalling the day his sweet boy was born

and now he is out on his own

The reflection of hurt from a teenaged girl

who just learned not all love is true

She’s not sure she’ll survive this still bleeding wound

from something she thought was so pure

The reflection of fear from a seven year old

who hears fighting from somewhere downstairs

Was that the sound of shattering glass

and the thud of a thrown kitchen chair

The reflection of guilt from a hospice nurse

as she holds the old lady close

Her suffering charge had been asking for death

in the form of a large morphine dose

The reflection of shame from a short tempered dad

who just spanked his three year old son

He still hears the howls and sees tears of pain

These are memories not easily outrun

Ah yes, what stories the mirror could tell

It has heard and witnessed it all

The families come and the families go

While our witness remains at the end of the hall

Reviews

[Monica Chen]

Oftentimes the most significant objects, people, and moments are overlooked and left in total obscurity...

I've read a lot of poems on mirrors, but this has to be one of the best I've read. I love how it personifies and adds sentimental value to the function of a mirror and characterizes the loneliness and negligence that the mirror encounters in its interactions with the house's various tenants.