Mirror Poem by Amber Jones

Before me rest eyes the color of lake water in the springtime,
sad, teary.
Caramel-brown hair and soft, ivory skin,
lips tucked in deep frown
are grim, expressionless.
I say,
'Why, you look just like me.'

'What's wrong? You seem upset.'

'Really? I feel the same way. Are you lonely, too? '

'That makes two of us. Don't you have any friends? '

'Me neither, but, perhaps, we can be friends, since we have so much in common? '

'Yeah, I'd like that, too.'

The girl smiles at me,
a faint flicker in the corner of her mouth,
but such a tiny expression cannot hide the pain in her eyes,
so despondent, desolate.
She frowns again, I with her,
and, together, we glare angrily at the other.
We scream in unison;

'Why must you mock me! ?
Tear me limb by limb from the inside! ?
Bring me up so high just to rip me back down! ?
I hate you!
I hate you!
Why can't you be pretty and popular! ?
Why can't you make at least one friend! ?
Why must you be so forlorn and mislead! ?
Why aren't you perfect! ?
It's not fair!
Why! ?
Everyone else is perfect and pretty and happy and forward!
You make Mom and Dad sick!
You make everyone at school sick!
You make me sick! '

At that, we both thrust forth our fists
and shatter the other to pieces.
We were not but the others' reflection
anyway.