Out Of Egypt Poem by Laurence Overmire

I need to look myself in the mirror
more often
To catch up with the lines drawn hard
upon my face
The image stuck inside my head is
ten years off the mark
Strong-jawed, slim-waisted youth
Friended, sure, believing in the promise
Still had dreams that hadn't been crushed.

I need to see the difference
Now
Uncover the path from there to here
The trail of tears the pain forgets.

The secrets are hidden in the corner of the eye
The strands of hair now out of place and gray
The flesh compounded on the bone beneath
the cheek…

And somewhere in the riddle of the face
behind the glass
The sphinx answers, a stone heart
Crumbles.

~ Laurence Overmire