The Mirror

I saw you as I saw a mirror,
Each movement mimicked mine,
And each word whispered softly,
Pronounced in unison and rhyme,
And as I smiled, you in reflection,
Returned it readily,
And your gaze did lock and linger,
Staring steadily.

Touching tips of fingers then,
Breathing quickened there - within,
Closed my eyes to feel the glass,
Waiting for this time to pass,
Swallowed - throat contracted, still,
Something moved inside - unreal,
And beckoned me to bring to you,
All I was and all I knew. . . .

Offering then , my heart I held,
In my palms stretched out before me,
And it seemed you did the same,
But your hands were empty,
And when I saw my heart was missing,
A look revealed deep in your eyes,
That there it beat within your pupils,
Begging me to die.

Then towards the edge the mirror cracked,
Fragmented image darkened - black,
Splintered, shattered, just as us,
Falling pixels, diamond dust,
Shards that glitter - it did seem,
To sound just as an infant's scream,
In recognition somethings wrong,
When someone from her life is gone.

Then the wind did sweep away,
Your grains that scattered at my feet,
As ash they rose and swirled about,
Like stars it glowed - like hearts it beat,
And when grey sky did start to shimmer,
Like heat waves on famished lands,
High above I heard your laughter,
That shook the earth where I did stand.

I closed my eyes and heard her weep,
Months old child awoke from sleep,
As father took his drowning drink,
Into the depths did he then sink,
As mirrored mother smiled on,
Where the final bath was drawn,
Finger stirring poisoned pond,
Eternal, where the dead have gone.