In the Looking Glass

In the Looking Glass

p***y willow words 

mirrored back to me in angry disdain. 

heckling red laughter

tore ....... 

                   tears 

shredded tissues between us

so long ago      -       and yet

still i find

stubborn phrases

tonguing soft pink ears

stuck in  cracks between the walls 

unchanged .......................................................

 (a senryu in waiting)

you weren't into it and

I had need

Ginger cherry mop boards tight against the wall

holding fast ........... a heart, a fall

stillborn syncope

mirror images recognized

fog forgotten filigree

                                   fading 

impregnates the silence

turn past the looking glass

i won't remember any more

anymore.

E. 08/28/2019

Author's Note

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

How we see things when we look at ourselves and the past. Despite the differences and the history feelings are hard to extinguish for amongst the ashes of paper an unburnt fragment remains to plague us and remind us of the book and how we fingered it's pages.

[Einstein Noodle]

spot on John! you read with sensitivity and insight .. you hit all the points i was aiming at ;) God bless us all in such misery eh!? ;))
E.

[Patricia Wedel]

Love your review of E's poem, John Alexander.... "an unburnt fragment remains" ... so poetic... be still my heart. Amen, Pat

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Pat. Sir 'E' produces many wonderful writes.

[Lisasview]

Finally found a poem I have not read nor reviewed.. not easy as it appears I have read most of your...
Well, our past is never truly forgotten as it hangs like a thread in our memories and comes back to us full force... and often in such a painful ~ unsettling way. There is no getting around this..(hey, this is why people sometimes resort to drugs? right)
We just need to live with those memories and move forward..No need for a mirror.. the truth is always right infront of us..
Lisa, trying to finish and post a new poem..

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much for searching and taking time on this one, Lisa! i appreciate your reviewing even more for your effort .. i don't write enough ... i have been in a slump for over a year and at best squeek something into print every couple months .. others are so prolific around here ... yes .. we don't need a mirror .. we carry it always .. the main underlaying point in this one ;) thanks for mentioning it .. and yes .. this actually is personal (don't tell anyone ok?!) and very painful at the time ;) love on ya girl!! love and joy!
E.

[Lisasview]

Glad I understood the essence of your poem... makes me feel good..
I will keep checking,
read moreGlad I understood the essence of your poem... makes me feel good..
I will keep checking,
Lisa

[Ruth]

This tore me apart a tad and then rebooted me in some ways :) I smiled, not because it lessens the poetry but because of the talent conveyed within to articulate such a haunting of the past when memories hit...not sure that makes any sense E, this poem however is phenomenal and once again, not just the meaningful content but the beautiful presentation is wonderfully executed :)

[Einstein Noodle]

our hearts are tuned it Ruth ... makes all the sense ;) your review captures the experience fully i think .. i so appreciate you taking time .. finding this and reading it ... and for letting me know your reactions and thoughts on it ... thank you so much ... you are kind, generous and encouraging :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
E.

[Fran Marie]

perhaps the mirror
holds more truth than
we imagine..and the
outcome isn't exactly
as charming as we once
thought...not the image
we might wish to see
yet we do remember even
If we rather forget the past
I like the fine detail in this
well crafted piece..nice

[Einstein Noodle]

spot on ... we do try to forget .. but it just aint so! ;) thank yo for the positive feedback, Fran .. the devil is in the detail eh!? :)))) thank you for mentioning that .. happy you enjoyed reading dear friend! top o' the mahrnin' to ya!
E.

[gram linski]

great poem, E, gazing into the mirror trying to see the past, maybe the exact moment when the shape changed and the silence began, liked the double tap of anymore at the end

[Einstein Noodle]

she was a tough one, gram ;( ... how do we survive my friend ... all the bumps, scrapes and slicing .. crazy huh!?
E.

[andrew mitchell]

I wonder if a mirror lies and I suppose it does on reflection if the subject is untrue! A write to ponder on!

[Einstein Noodle]

i suppose it does now you mention it ... we lie to ourselves all the time eh!? a heart attack becomes heart burn ... no big deal ;} wasn't it an evil witch who saw the "fairest in the land" ?? ;) top o' the mahrnin' to ya by the way!
E.

[andrew mitchell]

Always a great morning to you my friend.

[Relic]

I read too many of the reviews and have nothing to say. ha

There are impressions that hang on the walls of our unconscious. They are a part of us no matter what we do and they can be hard to get rid of if they're stuck there with the glue of anger, depression, or unhappiness. Your style is very skillful. Only the most necessary words fit. That's something I wish I could do. Maybe someday.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much Relic...you are too kind .. truly ... i know what you mean by reading too many reviews .. and nothing to say ... give me a fine chuckle my friend! glad you chose to read this one ... i kind of like it myself...if we allowed to do that ;)))))))))))))))))) peace and health!
E.

[kentuck14]

E,
Quick flashing images in the looking glass of memory . . . shrouded in mystery. Makes me remember when she wasn't into it, even after a tongue in her soft pink ear. Oh that need!!! "Ginger cherry mop boards". . . . You must be remembering the 70's!!! or very bad LSD flashbacks!!! Interesting write, E.
T

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha well.... my most passionate times came from those 60s and 70s ... not sure i should admit to the LSD howerver ;} ... greater passions struck again in the 2000s ... she was a ginger ;) and i would never call her a bad trip :))))))))))) thanks for this great review .. brings smiles to me have kentuck! best of the day to ya!
E.

[Eilis]

Woo, that ending gives me shivers. I love the lonely echo of it. And the understanding that, yes, the speaker will likely remember and have to go through this painful exercise again.

I love the mood of this, E. It captures the feeling of memory impregnating (to use a word from your poem) every atom surrounding you. And that memory takes on such size that it is able to swallow everything else temporarily.

I like the way it’s hinted through slivers of the memory because it allows us to put ourselves there, and remember a time we have been affected thus.

It’s a lovely bit of poetry. Though I don’t want to inhabit that ache, I am glad to read the work and feel it’s impact temporarily.

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha yes... temporarily for sure ;)))))))))))) thanks for stopping by and reviewing this one ... it is deeply personal .. and memories from long ago ... in am 70+ so long ago means decades ;))) i am gratified this drew you in to your own story a bit ... and yes .. not a place to stay very long .. love that Ellis! thanks for taking time and reviewing always
E.

[Pryde Foltz]

Tremendous passions in this write, E. That looking glass can be a truthful and sometime sharp judge. Fantastic write:)

[Einstein Noodle]

whoa! passions move the passionate don't they Ms. Pryde ;) i could not be more happy you enjoyed this one .. tho its passions are painful and sharp .. passion it is .. love your smiling avatar ma'am! thanks for taking time to read and share
E.

[lightsong]

Wow dear E! such anger, such bitterness! what has she done to You? unfortunately when we think we moved on suddenly all come to us intensely controlling all our emotions and thoughts, I think when things are left undone before moving on is the cause for these memories to come and haunt us again, we need to settle it inside us and then move on, one tiny thing may ignite a memory and then another and another and we stuck in this cycle, powerful and intense piece.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes... i believe it is true ... and if left unsettled yet allow a re-ignition .. we can be drawn right back into the Vortex ... this is based on a distant terrible heart pain but she did not do it to me ;) but you make me smile big reading "what has she done to you" :))))) and the inspiration and i are still very good friends ... better friends actually ... you saw into this one Light .. and thank you for bringing your wisdom to it .. best of the day to ya!
E.

[lightsong]

I bet many women like Your joyful playful sense ;) all the best for You too dear E🌟

[Einstein Noodle]

ahhhhhhhhhhhh many women....yes ... a dream men should all have now and again says i!? :)