Marlee Mawer Poet Free verse

Mirrors

I turned away from the mirror as I passed, too unbearable of a sight. The look in that mirror wasn't the beat of my heart, wasn't the thought in my head, wasn't the truth in my bones. The reflection could never match the character. I could never feel right in the mirror. Like I'm faking who I am, cause god forbid I hurt someone. God forbid the life pumping through my veins is too human. It's not an image of you, it's how you're perceived. Self-perception distorts the reflection, it's kinder on the soul to look the other direction. Kinder on the eyes to not be perceived at all. To stay in that room, let your flesh grow dry and your bones show through, forget that ache for connection, welcome the numbness of starvation, strum a chord to feel whole and shatter the mirror for daring to show you your truth. Show you your rotting. You're giving up, giving in to the same standards you swore you'd never care about. Losing yourself to a reflection that was never yours. If you can't smile at yourself now, why could you before you became lost?

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Alison A Smith September 27, 2026 at 6:04 AM A haunting, unflinching free-verse piece. The breathless, cascading sentences mirror the speaker’s spiralling thoughts, while the repeated focus on the mirror creates a powerful central symbol for alienation, self-perception, and fear of being seen. Images such as “let your flesh grow dry and your bones show through” give the emotional pain a stark physical presence, and the closing question lands with real ache.