Reflecting On A Stranger I Thought I Once Knew

MIRROR/RORRIM

 

Vacantly
I stare through the glass
before me,
at him—
Whom I thought to know once;
   His form is familiar—
   As daily, I remember
He treads that ancient Street of Dreams.
   Yet his vague visage knows not
the welcoming warmth of my eyes;
No.  He does not recollect me
   And I remain to reflect
Upon this undying undoing of memory.

 

 

I call to him
But my voice does not resound
  in his ears—
Rather it fades
  a waning echo
in my head.

 

 

This friend from ages past
  who knew me better then—
I am now forgotten to,
Or perhaps it is indeed
He is forgotten to me
A remnant
  of the life that might have been
A reminder
  that transparency is not
  just true of glass
    And
  that reflection is not
simply thinking on this image of before—

 

 

But also taking in the image before me
  not with new eyes,
  but new mind.

 

Reviews

[Charles]

I like the way transparancy, reflection, new mind not new eyes, are used here, especially with the 'new mind' wrapping everything up in the last stanza. I find the phrases such as 'whom i thought' and visage knew not' a bit stilted - I know what you're trying to do, but they just seem a little contived. Generally, a very good writing. Don't let up.