Mirror Poem by Caroline Noonan

I've watched you grow up through the years.
I loved it when you came to visit all those years ago;
pulling funny faces, stretching your face in all directions to
make a face even sillier than the last.
Your face painted with vibrant pictures of stars and butterflies and the like.
You would laugh at me, and I would laugh back.
I loved it when you came to visit all those years ago.

Then one day you looked at me with your head held tall,
and a more serious countenance.
I loved the hours we spent together then. So many hours!
Although I missed how we used to giggle, I was now captivated
by your striking beauty.
Your youthful glow and taut skin were a wonder to behold.
You still painted your face, only no longer with pictures of unicorns and such,
but with shades of color that turned your eyes into mysterious, dark pools.
Your lips were painted like a rosy red apple or a bright orange peach that would
make anyone want to taste their firm, lush skin.
I loved the hours we spent together then. So many hours!

Now you look at me with such distaste.
You rarely come to visit now.
You still pull faces like you did when we were young.
Not to make me laugh, but to erase the lines that have bore into
your skin, creases left behind where you laughed or frowned.
You look so sad.
I wish you would paint your face again, or try to make me laugh,
but most of the time you ignore me.
Sometimes you walk by and give me a quick disapproving glance.
I try to get your attention, but your eyes quickly avert their attention
to anything but me.
I only want to tell you, "You are still beautiful, "
but you never come to visit now.