The Mirror Poem by Jarmara Black

I look at her and she looks back at me
she stretches out her hand and by finger tips we touch
my failings she perceives
she reaches deep down into my soul
her I cannot deceive
she plunges deep into my mind and heart and finds my hidden cry
and this she extracts from me most painfully

Free me from this dark embrace of guilt and self imposed disgrace
I cry

Free me from my tortured mind please deliver me from memories cruel and unkind
I pled

free me from societies disdainful stare and deliver me from there hateful glare
I beg

free me from my heavy dark cloud and save me from the baying crowd
I scream

Free me from my self pity teach me dignity and grace and serenity
I whisper

Free me from convention and from my self deception I whimper

She looks at me with a smile
and I stand waiting
I stand for quite a while
then I realize that she is me and I am her
and all that I am is down to me
and all that I can be is up to me
and me alone
in my hands my future sits
mine and mine alone.