Frail and Old

 

 

Clasping with frail fingers,

An old silver hand-mirror,

The sides of the glass blurred with jaded green,

With beautifully sculpted angels perched on the rim,

Angels still so young and so adorable,

They make this senile body jealous.

 

Timidly do I bring the reflection closer,

Scared to look at time’s diabolic creativity,

Lines, that have taken ages to emerge so conspicuously,

 

I stare at the rotten face in the old mirror and scrutinize,

 

The layers of foundation on the sagging face

To hide the lines of age.

 

Strokes of rouge on the skin,

Hanging loose on the cheek bones.

 

The red lipstick on the chapped pale blue lips.

 

Mascara on the almost invisible lashes.

 

Eye shadow on the lid to conceal the thin green lines.

 

Perfectly combed little remains guarded by my pretty blue hat.

 

 

 

I stare and I wonder

 

“Would you have loved me the same?”

 

I really don’t know!!

 

“But I still crave for you the same.”

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Damien Dsoul]

I am reading this poem for the second time, and the image that keeps recuring to me is that of Gary Oldman's character in 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'. Your poem so captures the weigt and feel of someone who's reviewing him/herself through the existential and shadowy mist of time. It is very nostalgic, and the benign attention to detail is very resorceful. And those last spoken words ... don't they seem more scary to you? They sure do to me. Brrr...

[Kees Kapteyn]

At 41, I marvel at the changes that happen to us over the course of years. The years have been kind to me, but not kind to some of my old friends I had gone to school with. I am thankful that I remain just as vibrant inside as I have always been, with a body that can still bring that vibrance to fore. I believe that we do mature, but fundamentally we don't change inside even while our bodies age... at least I hope so!

I like the use of the mirror as a kind of freeze frame into the woman's past, while its glass shows her in the present time. Mirrors never lie! It almost certainly is a mirror image, this whole poem- while the frame of the mirror exudes youth, the glass shows age- conversely the woman is aging outwardly and still feels young inside- perfect mirror concept! Well done!

[ah]

this is amazing, it makes me feel like i dont want to feel and its all because u made me imagine myself looking old lol, great write, thanks for asking me to read it, keep writing

[Arienas]

This is really good, it is well worth reading and I hope to see more out of you soon. This is defiantly worth the read. Keep up the good work

[Rain]

That was so painfully prophetic for all of us. I suppose there is some beauty to an old oak tree, but the human skin is a different kind of beauty. Although passion can last a long time. You wrote a very poignant piece. I know some very beautiful old woman, whose grace and dignity still remains. Rain..

[dedelite]

I liked it. I've worked with elderly people for most of my life and they feel exactly what you are describing.

[TL Boehm]

wow. it is a sad reality that the mind remains clear while the body seems to decay out from under us. You captured it so well in this poem

[Blue Bard]

Aging sucks in many ways, but you can't beat it for longevity. I like the image of the mirror, the angels so young, unchanging. I suppose the worst part is the regret, the seeing what you didn't see then and the understanding that you can't turn back time. Thought-provoking

[Tania Leigh]

A successful switch of POV .... very well done!

[Lydia Shutter]

The poignancy of this write brought tears to my eyes. You have captured the thoughts and emotions of an older woman as she gazes into the mirror at what she thinks is now a stranger's face. Absolutely gorgeous work! Lydia

[.]

Woh! I think you've captured them very well here! The thoughts and the imagery you express from another's pov is really amazing! Getting old is tuff i beleive. I wish they invent a fountain of youth already lol. Very well done!!

Mikey