Magic Mirror on the Wall, Who Is the Ugliest Beast? {poetry}
Suffering is the one experience we all have in common. We might as well channel it as a force for change.
So here we are,
Face to face,
Masks completely removed.
No audience in sight,
No social media likes,
Just you and I in the room.
A shadowy place,
A destined fate
That knows what happens next.
As tension builds,
We summon our will,
And hope for the very best.
No rules to break,
No egos to sate,
Which one of us will fall?
Only the mirror can tell,
Which lies to dispel,
Revealing the ugliest beast of all.
In the mirror’s frames
Are the dreadful remains
Of illusions that cannot last.
As reality sets in,
Discomfort leans in,
And we begin to rumble with our past.
I wait for your attack,
And slowly step back
To protect myself from your reach.
I put up my defense,
Eyes closed in suspense
As you are struck down in defeat.
I open my eyes
And in view to my surprise
Is a soul as deep as my own.
With scars that weep,
I do not dare to speak
Of the pain that calls you its home.
I gasp at your wounds,
Ask questions that assume
You brought this on yourself.
It is easy to blame,
But I feel deeply ashamed
That no one offered you help.
Your hurt oddly soothes,
Like an old familiar tune
I have tried so hard to forget.
I dance to its song,
And contently sing along,
Unaware that this is all a test.
I pause in fear,
Now desperate to disappear
From a reflection I know too well.
But how could this be?
I thought that I was free
Of the images I try to sell.
I shudder at the sight
Of what can be seen at night.
Who knew what lurked in the dark?
I feel guilt and I’m scared,
And I can’t help but to stare
At the hurt that pierces my heart.
Too late, I’ve been caught,
No sense in running fraught,
The mirror sees complete truth.
I have to confess,
Though it brings me distress,
That you are me, and I am you.
Deep panic ensues
As I fight to resume
The life that kept me sane.
Where ignorance was bliss
And I could easily dismiss
The fears that went untamed.
Please forgive my anger,
You are not in any danger,
It is I who admits defeat.
Your honest reflection
Of my perfect imperfections
Brings much needed humility.
I lay down my armor,
And the resentment that I harbor,
I have carried this load for too long.
I am ready to heal,
Make amends, strike a deal,
And compose a brand new song.
The old mirror is wise,
Dispelling the lies
That left me insecure.
Our struggle is not in vain,
And I am ready for change
That starts with a heart that is pure.
This means loving you,
Only compassion will do,
Because together, we stand tall.
I surrender control,
I only wish to console
And embrace the ugliest beast of all.
***
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