Before I present the poem to you, I wanted to tell you about some interesting stuff that I ran across as part of my research to finish the poem.
Anyhow, I needed a two syllable word to replace the three syllable word "re-flec-tion." I was using all my usual sources and had only come up with ideas like "mirror," "echo," and "image." None of these words works in context. Therefore, I suddenly remembered my Greek mythology and the character who personifies reflection, and that is Narcissus. "Nar-cis-sus" would not work of course because it is also a three syllable word. I hoped that maybe the French, Italian, or Latin version of the name might possibly be two syllables. No such luck! I did not find a replacement word that I could use, so I had to change the poem.
Though I did not find words that I could use, I did find some ideas that I had at least partially forgotten about. I was reminded that, in the tale of Narcissus, the blind prophet Tiresias had warned Narcissus's mother that Narcissus would live "to old age unless he recognized himself." Of course, we know that Narcissus died pining away for his own reflection in a clear water of a pool. Some versions of the story say the he was punished by the gods for rejecting the nymph Echo. Others merely say that he had an inordinate amount of pride and self-love in a lethal combination. Anyway, rereading some of the myths about Narcissus changed the direction of my poem, especially at the end.
Also, I found out that Narcissus is the genus of the flowers commonly called jonquils or daffodils. I did not know that some jonquils or daffodils are incorrectly labeled as lilies. The little yellow, so-called "Easter Lily" is one such example. It is either a jonquil or a daffodil, but it is not a lily because lilies are a completely different genus. There are real Easter Lilies (Lilium longiflorum), but they are much larger, mostly white flowers. The picture that I posted above are of the genus Narcissus. I call call them lilies, Kellie calls them lilies, but they are either jonquils or daffodils. Go figure!
All righty! Here is the revised poem. Enjoy!
Narcissus Learns
Look at me! Do not dare turn your eyes away!
This is the crumbling shell in which we live,
Prickling with stiff hairs of white and gray,
Rigid with vengeful pains that will not forgive.
I know this face’s features. I’ve seen those eyes
Full of joie de vie and mischievous twinkles,
Green and gold like springtide’s first disguise
Laughing back at me beneath lids free of wrinkles.
I recall those pliant lips, the easy smile
That crinkled in each cheek a happy dimple,
A chin, unbearded, when whiskers weren’t in style
And razoring the velvet skin was simple.
I remember how I paused at every mirror
In a time when what I saw I loved the most,
Then hatred grew as blemishes got clearer,
And I found my body lacking as a host.
Do we still love me, Narcissus, or no?
Your silence begs the questions cast from mine?
What time we’ve wasted…we should let it go
And read this wordless meeting as sign.
If I am to live life long, then I must pass
Each surface that reveals me in its glass
And set my gaze on future, wiser ends
Where beauty, truth, and time are still my friends.
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