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Dark Poetry #2
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Reflections of a Life
| Dark Poetry #2 |
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Reflections of a Life |
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JP Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343Loomis, CA 
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Staring intently at the face in the glass, wondering at its changes through the years. I've looked at this face, trapped in mirrored cell. I've noticed the marks of time, showing who I have become, sometimes without knowing it. Hair, the shade of used dishwater never thick nor bouncy, now speckled here and ther with specks of grey. The forehead, once smooth, now shows faint creases, like soft ripples in a pond - thought lines, is what I prefer to call them. The eyebrows, pleasantly arched (can one be proud of eyebrows?) drawn together by wrinkles of consternation. The eyes staring back at me so intently, are brilliantly blue at this moment. Showing no signs of years past. Pleasing in their clarity and smoothness, yet sad, for the same reasons. None of the little lines attributed to laughter, a sorry testament to a life with little joy. The nose, this strong, straight nose, draws the gaze to the mouth below. Lips; soft, moist, and beautifully shaded. Clearly defined shape urges a sensual pride within me. The mustache framing that softly sexy mouth, matches the hair without the flecks of age. Teeth, not quite as bright as they once were, too much coffee and too many cigars perhaps. Ah, no matter, the straight, wide smile, is pleasing still - when allowed to show. That chin, sharply defined as is the jaw, once coated in soft dark whiskers, bu now... cleanly shaven since too much dark had turned grey. Overall, this face in the glass that looks at me, shows clarity, strength, pride. No feature here so impressive as to draw focus, but all blending nicely to form this mask. Signs of worry touched lightly here or there, but ultimately, this face staring back at me, hides all that has come to pass, all that boils beneath. I close my eyes and turn away, tearing my gaze from that visage framed in argentine. I close my eyes and heart, to that ageless facade, staring back at me from the mirror. Yesterday is ash, tomorrow is smoke; only today does the fire burn. JP "Everything is your own damn fault, if you are any good." E. Hemmingway |
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| © Copyright 2000 JP Burns - All Rights Reserved | |||
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SpitFire Member Elite
since 2000-04-19
Posts 2396 |
~Uummm,...Holy Wow!!! Can I speak to you in private? hehe,...no seriously, this poem is a thousand things to me. I try not to look at my own reflection too deeply these days, and I don't know,...I'm not really getting the right words out, but I just wanted you to know that I felt this poem and it's depth. I will email you later when I get home from work....I'm serious, I know that we don't know eachother but I have something to say to you about a post a looong while back. Take care of you. *Peace. |
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Hardrock Senior Member
since 2000-02-14
Posts 948New Hampshire, USA |
Oh Yeah, JP...go through that every day I do. I recently had a picture made..sent it to my daughter with the question, "Do I really look like that?" I didn't like the answer, but I already knew. You have to close your eyes...but never your heart. Hang in there...the best is yet to come. Hardrock |
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JP Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343Loomis, CA |
Thanks for the kind words folks. I appreciate it. Spitfire - check your email for a special message just for you! (sounds like Publisher's Clearing House....) Hardrock - It is funny how we can look at ourselves in the mirror and see what we see, then see ourselves in a photograph and realize how the world sees us... "damn! Am I that ugly?!!   Yesterday is ash, tomorrow is smoke; only today does the fire burn. JP "Everything is your own damn fault, if you are any good." E. Hemmingway |
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taramw Senior Member
since 2000-06-08
Posts 738 |
Loved this!  But, hey, I call them "life lines" not thought lines! Every one telling a story, huh?! Great poem! |
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kynder Senior Member
since 2000-04-11
Posts 537Tallahassee, Florida |
i find it kinda sad that you see the beauty in yourself and still turn away from it. excellent, simply excellent work. thank you for sharing such an intimate part of yourself. kynder Across the gateway of my heart, I wrote "No Thoroughfare!!" But love came laughing by and Cried "I enter everywhere!!!" Herbert Shipman |
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**STAR** Junior Member
since 2000-07-10
Posts 26San Diego, Ca. |
That is very true I feel the same way quite often when I look in a mirror or look at pictures of myself. It makes you think and reflect on what those close to you think and feel. |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
Wow, JP, you said it! We change so subtly, then all of a sudden , at least for me, the mirror is completely LYING. The way I feel about it is, I still feel like me, why don't I look like me? Fantastic poem, surely touched everyone who is on the other side of perfect youth.. Sandra |
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