Ancient Mirror

A Versenator Challenge #16

 

Ancient Mirror

 

The ancient mirror,

its edges ringed

with old wood molding,

paint decayed, cracked and peeling,

spiraled web hanging

from its crumpling edges

tells our past, future, present

if we let its power draw us in.

 

Gaze deep -- it knows

from whence you’ve traveled,

your careworn paths

overcome with weeds, discarded refuse

of days you thought forgot,

old friends and lovers

you dropped at hours of need

or left you cold

by barren roadsides,

not just the sunlit days

of happy careless youth

you thought had formed you.

 

It knows the paths ahead,

the tripwires in your road,

waiting to explode

the agonizing beauty

of your precious life,

how youth will flower,

wilt and melt to dust.

It knows your destinies,

every one and

every choice along your way

if you only stop to seek

the wisdom welled within.

 

You gaze, deep as you dare,

only hoping for the slightest sign

today’s beauty remains sublime

and not caring for the road ahead,

not wanting worse the one behind.

You live full of this day’s light

and give this mirror slight

which could tell you more, much more,

a spider’s web of sticky choices

that you pass in favor

of today’s favorite flavor

seeking splendor in the killing night.

 

David P. Eckert

Reviews

[Gandré]

David, ha! You are here. I wanted to review, I came here, but I already did.
Good to see you. I missed you. How are you?

[Otto L.n. Pipgras]

this was quite good. It brought about visions of Frodo's gaze into the Mirror of Galadriel

superb selection of choice words make up good meter here. enjoyed reading this one aloud.

[Shannon K.]

This gives an amazing imagary and it is written very well. The flow is nicely done and I think the whole thing workd wonderful,
S.k.

[Kara Emily Krantz]

"Gaze deep -- it knows
from whence you�ve traveled,
your careworn paths "


the detail within this poem was reallly nicely done :)

[Victrola Belle]

this almost reminds me a childhood finding ...that mystic relic to see what you'll become..then perhaps being able to change the not-so-great......it symbolizes our desire to understand oursleves....

but in reality we have to look toward patterns instead..not nearly as fun:)

enjoyed :)

[J. Duran]

Great sense of imagery!
Good Job!!!
-J. Duran

[Jessica Standifird]

I like the ethereal quality you lend to the mirror in this piece. I have a love of antiques, especially things dusty and hidden in the corners of people's lives. We too often pass over what's waiting to be discovered for what's staring us in the face. This poem's whispering for us to look around, deeper, further. I like that. : )

[Ron Cole]

This excellent verse speaks to the inate desire in all of us to find mystery and treasure in the Attic (or buried, etc.). An Ancient Mirror that sees into the soul, and sees all, even the future!What a fantacy, and what a delightful and brilliant story! The mirror even reflects that we prefer fantacy over fact, to see only the image of youth and beauty and avoid the tragic images that can be reflected only a few years into the future! Bravo!

[Moonlight]

Moonlight read here.

[Ashly Christen]

i always find something beautiful in old things, especially mirrors. They are powerful, allowing us to see into our eyes (the window to the soul) sometimes we see things we dont want to and need to, and sometimes nothing....very nicely done i liked it
;)