And Still

There is a mirror
Beyond a woman's heart
Beyond the image of man
(Beyond your wife and father)
That shows you
Who you are and always were
Once upon a time and still

And still
The mirror can be
The surface of the calmest Inland Sea
Of white time
Which moves so quickly
It appears to stop and still
Reflections

Reflections
Of a lifetime met
Since highchairs became 
Stares across the dinner table
Now appearing in your shaving mirror
Each morning
Are not you
But touch and word and play
Reflections of
Eyes of others

Eyes of others
Re-presenting you to you
As they see and feel
And hear and move you
As reflections of THEIR selves
Your mother's son. your father's son, your son's father
Your sister's brother, your brother's keeper
Keeping in these echoes THEIR identities
Folded in the surround protected from
The shattering

The shattering
The mirror can be
Of illusion of force and ceremony
Of bonds and chains and 'sposed-to -bes
Images of custom fractured
Rank and riches  crown and king fall to
Nothing

Nothing
Scattered ashes on the waves
And ripples of time beyond you
Who you are and always were
Once upon a time and still

deathfamilymysterytimemirrortimefree verse

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