A Cheval Mirror Poem by Adrian Flett

The back of the cheval
faces out tells nothing,
or does it?
Out of never changing window
never changing curtains hang
never drawn open or shut
just set apart; say nothing.
Blind cheval back sees out
sees nothing stares out
as if to say, nothing
is happening anymore.

All happened before,
he watched, as she sat
at the mirror each day;
the careful preparation
before the mirror
now a vacant reflection
as he passes by
of hair brush, hairclips
powder bowl, lipstick
pencils to line the eye.

Nothing happens now
only, as he passes
some days he could swear
her face reflects there
disrupts his thoughts, his hopes
hinged now, leave all as is.
As was, before her going.
He could not move or dispose
painful enough to leave
alone; set in hope.
Light filters, casts shadows
just changing as the days
go by, each one moving him
closer to her - further from this.