Vanity

Vanity

A Poem by Carlos Lorenzo Estrada
"

I hate mirrors for the often reveal the truths we seek to hide from the world.

"
Vanity 

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

(Redundant Illusion) 

Vanity, I see you clear
beyond reflection of a mirror

Painted, manicured, disguise 
In imperfections that we hide

Illusions of our pride
Are follies often recognized 

Reveals in hope to be
Fooled by vanity

© 2023 Carlos Lorenzo Estrada


Author's Note

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada
In my old age I am no longer vain, or as much as I was in my youth. A trait I suspect was given to me as a vice by my mother. She would often spend hours preparing herself in front of a mirror. I remember at about age five just standing by the bathroom door watching this act play out. Like watching a long candle melt. I don't believe this is exclusive to one gender. Because in my teens and later I formed the same habit. I wrote this piece as an exercise of sorts. Choosing a single word to start a poem and end it. Little did I realize the consequences and profound emotions this short piece would elicit within me. So many memories came flooding into mind as I remembered my mother spending hours in front of her mirror attempting the impossible. Trying to hide what we truly are. CLE

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Reviews

Mirrors and reflections. It can show beauty, imperfection, sorrow, anger. I have seen many different emotions in my eyes in the reflections. Carlos, I LOVED it. The author's note was awesome. Thank you for sharing.
Best Wishes,
Turbo1904

Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

Thank you Debra I so appreciate your kind words. Indeed the mirror reflects more than just our imag.. read more
Mirrors reflect our aging and fleeting beauty, but hardly our wisdom. It is vanity indeed to pursue something temporary instead of the eternal. Reality can make us believers if we humble ourselves.
An awesome take on this subject.
You are truly a poet.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

Thank you Sami for your kind words. Hearing such encouragement from my peers means a lot to me. Bec.. read more
Sami Khalil

1 Year Ago

I agree wholeheartedly. You are welcome fellow artist. Chug on......
"mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?"
If we think we are, we may really be kidding ourselves and need to step away from that mirror, or turn out the lights.
j.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

I could not have said more wiser a word then these. Thank you my friend. I feel at times it's gener.. read more
Your words speaks volumes. Beauty is an inside job. Illusions of pride.. what a great line. Love this poem.


Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me on this poem. Teen suicide is at its highest in.. read more
I have a hate hate relationship with mirrors. Always judging me when I should shave or moisturise or just give up and play join the dots on my creases and see what I can come up with. (I would try it but just know I'd end up with a Picasso left out in the rain look.
Life indeed gets simpler with age. No need to wash your hair and press your clothes every time you step over the threshold.
Okay, the grocery delivery folk might get a shock when I gruffly open the door in my penguin onesie and scratching bits I'm not quite awake to know I shouldn't, but I think the postman overreacted when he shrieked like a little girl and ran away when I answered the door to sign for a parcel still in my highly successful big bad wolf onesie at Halloween. (Did I mention I live in a forest miles away from anything but my sole neighbour and the dribbling remnants of a melting snowman... I should really remove that carrot and bits of coal!)
He now parks half a mile away and sneaks into my porch, rings the bell and runs like the clappers. 😊


Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

Lol oh I think you are perhaps too hard on yourself my friend. I would to say though that perhaps i.. read more
Carlos, your poem brought me memories of my own mother sitting before her 'Hollywood-lighted" make-up mirror, painstakingly "putting on her face" before she could venture outside for the day's tasks...Max Factor pan-stick foundation, black eyebrow pencil, mascara, red lipstick, etc. It was a sacred ritual that I watched in rapt admiration. This was her armor, and she wore it proudly into her 80s. Brushing her curly, jet-black hair, she would place the gold hoops in her ears. Then, she was "ready". My little mother, not even 5' tall. Oh, how I miss her beauty, her delicacy, her scent. Was she vain, trying to hide her olive, acne-scarred skin and ethnic features? Or was she an artist creating her own, more perfect, reality? The mistress of illusions, she was also the epitome of grace. Thank you so much for bringing back to me this sweetest of memories with your word, my friend. Much appreciated.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful and delicate memory with me. I too have similar memor.. read more
Annette Pisano-Higley

1 Year Ago

Thank you for sharing your memories and wise words Carlos. My grandmother also lived with us and rai.. read more
Wow we do need to look in a mirror but sometimes we don't see so insightful this write it makes me think
Thank you for sharing

Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

Thank you Mauricio for your kind thoughts on this poem. My grandmother, my Nana, almost never look.. read more
Mauricio Montoya

1 Year Ago

Wow I feel you
Vanity can mean excessive pride, obsessiveness about one's appearance, or futility. Of course, a certain king said all is vanity, so we may be talking about different faces of the same thing.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

Indeed we may my friend. To some it may be a virtue, while to others a vice. In the end the choice .. read more
I love your poem but the lines from your notes, especially these lines "She would often spend hours preparing herself in front of a mirror.. I remember at about age five just standing by the bathroom door watching this act play out. Like watching a long candle melt" really moved me and painted a picture in my mind.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

Thank you Amanda for your kind words. I really appreciate it. I often try to portray the origins o.. read more
As we all know Carlos, beauty is within a person, not necessarily reflected in a mirror. But we also know that some women in particular spend hours in front of a mirror making themselves up to what they believe is beautiful... I had a mother-in-law who did that until the day she died... and she would teach me as a kid how to be beautiful... she even wore wigs.... I love this poem and the beginning and the end....middle too!
Best, B

Posted 1 Year Ago


Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

1 Year Ago

Thank you B for your kind words and sharing that personal note. The image of beauty is unattainable .. read more
Betty Hermelee

1 Year Ago

You're very welcome C.!
Best, B

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386 Views
21 Reviews
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Added on March 25, 2023
Last Updated on March 25, 2023
Tags: Conceit truth illusions

Author

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada
Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

salinas , CA



About
If I can say something worth saying that makes just one person think about others...I'll try. The greatest storyteller was my grandmother. I miss her stories. Also, I would like to add to please pay.. more..

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