Mirror

Mirror by Sylvia Plath

I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions. Whatever I see I swallow immediately Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike. I am not cruel, only truthful ‚ The eye of a little god, four-cornered. Most of the time I meditate on the opposite wall. It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long I think it is part of my heart. But it flickers. Faces and darkness separate us over and over.Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me, Searching my reaches for what she really is. Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon. I see her back, and reflect it faithfully. She rewards me with tears and an agitation of hands. I am important to her. She comes and goes. Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness. In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish.

 

This poem, to me, is about how you cannot hide from yourself. The mirror can show no lies, and will show you what you may not want to see. In this poem, the mirror talks about the truth it reflects. People try to hide who they are but they can’t. The woman in this poem sees herself aging, and is stricken with sadness. When looking at herself, she sees who she really is. The cover is no longer there. She seems frightened by the real her. By the truth.

 

I read this poem, and fell in love with it. This is what it means to me. I have no idea what it means to you though. We all interpret things differently. If you have any ideas or want to share what you think, please leave a comment. Thanks!

In spirit with this poem, I myself wrote one on a similar topic.

You Can’t Run From Yourself

When you see her in the mirror, What do you see within her eyes? Do you see the truth within them, Or do you see your own disguise?Do you look into your soul, Or do you glance quickly and look away? Do you look when she is shaded, Or do you stare during the day? Do you cake you face with powder blankets, Hiding what you don’t want to see? Or do you stay an empty pallet, Claiming, “This is the real me.” Can you look at yourself naked, And still know just who you are? Or do your wrappings make you yourself, When you are bare you know not who you are. When you look within the mirror, And you see things you don’t like, Do you try to make things better? Or do you blame it on the light? When you see her in the mirror, Do you know exactly who she is? Or do you stare blankly, Not able to see what you have missed, Because you refuse to look deeply, Afraid you won’t like the stranger you find, Hidden in the shadows, behind the curtain of mist. Even when you wear a mask, And you trick everyone else, Behind your curtain of disguise, You can never trick yourself. Emily E. Mehigan

 

Thanks for reading! Comments would be appretiated!! <3Emily