Mirrors
Our severest critics, they look
at us as few eyes dare –
blunt, merciless, mocking.
And yet we view them like
true friends, confidants, advisors,
trusting their appraisals as fair,
just, unbiased, and benign
as they know us infinitely better
than we would dare to know
ourselves. And then one day,
as if we took no note of passing
time, we feel the gaze too fiercely,
too cutting, the truth too harsh,
the light too revealing. Suspicion,
doubt, distrust set in. We turn
away shakened, betrayed. Finally,
to compensate for what we see
as lies and treachery, we take refuge
in self-delusion, that last haven
of the desperate heart, and pretend
with relief that restores our
self-confidence and peace of mind
that every mirror has gone
from harsh honesty to pity
and conveniently gone blind.
Copyright ©
Maurice Rigoler
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