When I look in the mirror
I am generally disappointed.
In my mind’s eye
I envisage a colourful character,
rainbow-hued, vibrant, sparkling with light.
And then my critical eyes
find the silver streaks wiring through my hair
(which I had imagined to be luxurious
but my elephantine memory reminds me that
somebody once told me was thin and fine and somewhat limp)
and I add to that let-down the bags under my eyes
and the slightly receding chin
and the crooked front teeth
and the wide hips
and the thighs too sturdy for the skin-tight jeans I would love to wear
(the kind my younger, more svelte sister suits so well)
– and I am disappointed.
It’s a good job I don’t own a full-length mirror
and even better that I only see the top to toe me
when in the Ladies loos at work
and really, that doesn’t count, because it is only work.
I come to life after 6pm and at weekends
when my imagination runs riot.
And then, then, I am not disappointed.
No, I am not disappointed at all.
———-
Tonight, in dVerse Poetics, Grace introduces us to the juicily, vibrant art of Cheryl Kellar. Cheryl has kindly allowed us to use some of her art as inspiration for our work this evening – aren’t we lucky!Herbiography gives me heart and hope – she was a court reporter by day, her artist-soul hidden underneath the precise (and I imagine) serious demeanour required for such a responsible job. Please do rifle through her website and also her blog for joyous and uplifting art.
So, here’s my response to the glorious work above, which is actually titled ‘Oh, the stories she could tell’ – oh couldn’t we, couldn’t we all?! Please do pop along to the dVerse bar and see what the other twice-weekly drinkers (err, I mean poets!) have been up to!
Freya Writes... 
ha – it’s good to let the imagination run riot a bit – and if it leads to accepting ourselves as we are it’s even better…
Absolutely!
Ah.. yes the mirrors can be so cruel at times.. even as a man I can say the same.. but why not let the imagination run around a little
My imagination is a much better friend to me than any mirror!
Fabulous Freya, seeing ourselves as we really are and accepting what we are does take some effort buts what we are and why should we be disappointed, that person we are takes us places, gives us new experiences, allows us to love and be loved, its ok to be who we are.
Well said, Michael. I have enough self-doubt without getting hung up on any mirror’s reflection! 🙂
I understand where you are coming from Freya. Have a good day/evening.
You’d be surprised how the person inside paints what others see
Hmmmm, yes, indeed.
why is it we see those things…and others dont always…we can be so critical of ourselves…but each wrinkle and scar i figure is earned…and i wear them like badges to a life well lived…smiles.
I think we can be our own worst enemy sometimes. Yes, each wrinkle and scar is part of our on life experience, I agree.
I talk to women all the time that criticize one thing or another about themselves, yet I don’t see it. Allow your imagination to run riot everyday 🙂
A great piece of advice!
Mirrors are such liars:)
Yes!
I can relate to so much in this, if only we could see ourselves through the eyes of others.
I think we should make a conscious effort to do so 🙂
In fact Freya…you are always BEAUTIFUL – we who read you, see you as you truly are (the weekend you!) …smiles.
Thank you so much, Gay – this made me smile from ear to ear! 🙂
Mirrors are deceptive and you see what you want to see ~ I love what you said about yourself after work (just like me), rejoice and let your imagination run riot ~
Thanks for joining in (hey not disappointed at all) and wishing you Happy Week ~
Thank you, Grace. Don’t get me wrong, I quite enjoy my job, but it doesn’t allow great opportunity for fun and mischief!
Oh i think I right there with you! Love where you took this prompt!
Thank you!
let the imagination run riot..it is a good way to be..enjoying the moments away from work.
It is indeed – thank yo!
It sounds like the speaker’s imagination has a nice voice and a mean one (that likes to do voice overs for mirrors.) I imagine she’s more the weekend her.
Thought provoking piece, and a little sad. When the revolution comes, we wil banish the mean voice.
Bring on the revolution, that’s what I say! Thank you 🙂
“and the wide hips
and the thighs too sturdy for the skin-tight jeans I would love to wear”
That’s my life. I’m naturally bottom heavy, which makes finding men’s jeans
that fit properly hell! very revealing write… It’s tough to love your body, especially with the standards of “beauty” nowadays… I often wonder how other’s see me, maybe it’s best not to know aye? and I like the end as well… great to leave on a positive… smiles
I find it interesting that men can be, and are, just as insecure as women in this way. I’m willing to bet others don’t see en half the ‘faults’ we see in ourselves….
Don’t we all….
feel like that. And don’t we all still see that earlier person, with the ‘proper’ head of hair and the smooth forehead…
Maybe fading eyesight is a blessing in disguise?
Yes, I quite like being more myopic than I used to be!
I don’t think the reflection of us mirrors the actual person; only our lovers & friends can do that. It like listening to our recorded voice; “Hey, I sound like that?”. I just face the glass clone each day, mid-riff bulge, warts, & all.
Quite right, Glenn. Glass clone is a great way to describe the reflection!
Oh, I so know what this is talking about… One of the few times I can forget what/who I am when I look in the mirror is when I’m writing… Thank you for putting that into words in such a wonderful way!
Yes, writing is the perfect way in which to forget ourselves!
I love the turnabout in this! And isn’t it true, as we age, we are allowed to discover that self-belief and self-acceptance.
… and then we realise that many things our parents tell us are, indeed, true! 🙂
letting your hair down is never disappointing – when we allow our real selves to show -our after hours and weekend selves – loved your take on this! K
Thank you. Yes, and in honour of this, I am literally letting my hair down, growing it again in my forties, even though women of my age are supposed to ‘go short’… 🙂
Love this! Don’t think of the grey as a sign of age, but as something to trick people into thinking you’re mature (that’s what I do). 🙂
Fantastic change of perspective, Bryan! It’s easier for a a man to pull that one off, though…. I my have to don a suit and tie 🙂