Mirror

by Ciaran Burke

Is the face in your mirror not
the beauty that looks at me?
A nose too big, uneven ears,
brows that bush, lips too thin?

Parental comments,
childhood teasing,
critical teacher,
a friend that laughed.

Infintissimal moments
of no significance,
destroy your world
for infinite time.

Comparing with the lie,
competing, mendacious image,
marketing concoction,
fictional reality.

Perfection, dream destination,
chasing the horizon,
the perfect view,
elusive, so far away.

Perhaps the mirror will crack,
and the truth reveal
the face that looks at me,
maybe you will love.

- Ciaran Burke