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The Face In The Mirror

Visage stark and eyes of steel He shares my thoughts and what I feel And seems to know more than I’ve known The face in the mirror sees through me. He knows my faults, my secret sins And bears no mercy without or within Judgement swift cuts to the bone The face in the mirror weighs me Dreams and goals, schemes and plans He shatters with a sneering glance And his silence is the only tone The face in the mirror knows me He measures my worth with soulless stare And soundlessly he lays me bare Worthless his lips appear to moan The face in the mirror shows me He finds me lacking and less each day Though why so harsh he will not say Just a loathing low hushed groan The face in the mirror wounds me His disregard so plain and clear He knows my pain and stokes my fear His twisted lips set the tone The face in the mirror grieves me He arbitrates my very life Slashes my soul with psychic knife His cruelty hard as stone The face in the mirror hates me No escape and no reprieve This simulacrum will never leave His torment won’t let me alone The face in the mirror is me

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Riley Ryleigh

Date: 7/7/2025 11:18:00 AM

Hi Danny, congratulations on your featured poem win! This is a well written introspective poem.

Danny Derden
Date: 7/7/2025 11:39:00 AM

Thank you, this was written from the heart while reflecting back on my then losing struggle with depression. Poetry has helped me get through a lot of it.

Susan Ashley

Date: 6/28/2025 7:07:00 PM

Dear Danny, your poem is a profound introspection and an intimate reveal. So wonderfully expressive with a unique rhyme scheme and visceral word choices. Your use of imagery and metaphor is rich and emotive. I enjoyed the depth of your exquisite poem. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Danny Derden
Date: 6/29/2025 10:21:00 AM

Thank you so much!

Suzette Richards

Date: 6/25/2025 10:56:00 PM

Hi Danny, An interesting take on introspection. I am just curious: Why did you repeat the word “moan” twice in similar positions?

Danny Derden
Date: 6/30/2025 4:49:00 PM

Just finished my first Suzette Prime poem, titled WE. Hope you like it, I found it both interesting & challenging to write this one.

Suzette Richards
Date: 6/26/2025 7:02:00 AM

I see you mentioned that you are a math teacher - pattern also fascinated me. Your natural introspective view in your poetry might lend itself well to Suzette Prime (see under Types of Poems here at PoetrySoup). Give me a nudge when you have posted one. Happy quills, Su

Danny Derden
Date: 6/26/2025 6:27:00 AM

Nice catch...I believe I meant to say "groan" in the 5th stanza. I'll fix that!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/25/2025 9:45:00 PM

I was noticing the cool rhyme scheme of this. Third line of each verse rhyming. And the end line repeating is like kyrielle, which I love. Did you make this pattern up? I like to do that kind of thing sometimes. Good writing. But why so hard on yourself?

Danny Derden
Date: 6/26/2025 6:25:00 AM

I like to play around with patterns time to time. After my time in military service I became a math teacher and patterns are everywhere in mathematics...I find them irresistible. Writing helps me temper my inner demons...they are no longer winning...but I still bear their scars.

Beata Agustin

Date: 6/16/2025 5:22:00 AM

Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Welcome to Poetry Soup. I welcome you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.

Danny Derden
Date: 6/25/2025 9:55:00 AM

Thank you. Glad to be here, glad to have a place to share my rhymes and learn new ones.