I carry my face
like a bowl full of water
fearful of spilling.
The world is full
of broken mirrors,
twisting screens
suncatchers spiralling
so that my face
surprises me
my body
shocks me
with its cold distortion.
Time drops stones
in the still pool
of my reflection.
The prism holds
a rainbow,
fans it out across
the kitchen floor.
I’m hosting at dVerse tonight, and asking for self-portraits. This is mine.
Time dropping the stones in the still water… what a great expression for the twisted mirror… there are days when I see something I don’t want to see as well.
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I’m in love with the opening stanza, Sarah, it expresses my feelings so beautifully. As you may have worked out from the speckled mirror under the stairs, I only look in it when I really must. I’ve never been a fan of mirrors and avoid them all, the broken ones, the shop windows, the full-length ones, and those awful ones in stores where you don’t expect them that I usually crash into! The final stanzas are stunning.
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Nice metaphor, Sarah, and good to learn something about you from your selfie.
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The opening lines are so incredibly poignant, Sarah! A heart-stirring self-portrait. 💝
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Thank you, Sanaa. I’m glad it worked for you.
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All mirrors distort.
Selfalicious work, Sarah!
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Thanks, Ron.
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WOW, such imagery emphasized in your amazing words. ❤ Love this the most:
"The world is full
of broken mirrors,
twisting screens
suncatchers spiralling…"
So vivid and expressive.
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“time drops stones in the still pool of my reflection” too, Sarah. I love your descriptive phrases in this wonderful poem. I’m quite sure you’re still as beautiful as ever!
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Tender poem, and touching. Yes, we all begin to see thise ripples in the pool of time.
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I love reading you because you always surprise and delight me. LOVED this!
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I really like getting to know you this way. You shared your vulnerability with the same fears many of us have as we get older.
“Time drops stones
in the still pool
of my reflection”
Beautiful lines Sarah ☺️💕
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I understand the disillusionment of the mirror. Love the images in your poem Carrying your face like a bow full of water! Love it.
Dwight
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This is an honest and brave poem. I turn 79 in ten days, and assure you I relate to the emotion and message you have shared.
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Your opening is so powerful, your closing, thought-provoking.
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There is so much beauty in this self-portrait, which I am sure reflects the beauty within. The last two stanzas especially are just stunningly beautiful.
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The prism holds
a rainbow,
fans it out across
the kitchen floor
So beautiful!
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The water mirror shows what might be, not necessarily what is. The rainbow is just as likely.
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Sarah, this is beautiful! I love the first stanza. It will stay with me for a long time!
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Love these lines:
“Time drops stones
in the still pool
of my reflection.”
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Love this…jumping right in from the wonderful first stanza.
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Loving that first stanza and then the juxtapositioning with the pebble thrown into the pond and creating the ripple. In terms of mirrors, I think I much prefer to see myself in the expressions on my husband’s face….I feel beautiful and loved there….the mirror? Not so much.
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Oh my Goodness. You had me at the opening stanza. Achingly beautiful and evocative words. The rainbow at end brought peace and solace.
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Sarah,
Wow, wow. I love the opening of this and the whole poem.
“I carry my face
like a bowl full of water
fearful of spilling”
Thank you for sharing your words.
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