Truth of the Mirror

The road of life should lead to fulfillment.

Sometimes my mirror reflects a mood,

A sour visage where dourness intrudes. 

Today I see not face, hair nor eyes. 

Past creased scowl, I see something else, 

Somewhere deep in the mist, where time melts -- 

Here, no form, no scent, no place to hide. 

  

Truth lurks in that fog. It speaks to me,  

Freezing my gaze. What seems true must be. 

I recall blind faith that brought me here. 

Echoes of choice now bid me rejoice. 

I know the facts, the moral, the voice.  

With new insight, my path is clear. 

  

Demarcation, like beach pencils sea, 

Simplicity defined, shines for all to see. 

Simple truth, so clear in summation, 

Now takes on hues never there before -- 

Marks and stains denied in days of yore 

Now entrance me with fascination. 

  

Emigre who hails me "hey, matey," 

Smile of delightful neighbor lady, 

Cavorting pets, children who clamor 

With immeasurable  joy each day -- 

These are life's bounty for which we pray. 

Life breathes in not riches and glamor. 

  

Humble male, creature of girth and pride, 

Loses his fire where harsh hearts abide. 

Should he pamper mate, bear gaffing pain 

That voids hope and glee, who spurns caress? 

Duty to self rejects such duress 

When those enslaving issues entrain. 

  

The mirror says, if not the solution, 

Then the problem -- no absolution. 

Well, I turn from soul-sucking shame, 

As I  accept truth of fading years. 

Thanks, mirror, you allay my fears. 

I must flee. Heaven, restore my flame. 

Author's Note

It is hard to make ends meet when somebody keeps moving the middle. Sometimes we must navigate deadends or detours on the road to fulfillment.

Reviews

[wordman]

i guess the reflection of time tells all,but it`s still the inside that counts

[bigfootprint]

Yep the loftiest intentions of all can be wasted at the wall of bad choices, betrayal, and abuse. Even Edison's lowly light bulb met a thousand failures before lighting up his life.

[wordman]

he certainly did