Roman Mirrors

Your face remains unseen

Except through the grim and grainy glass

That’s stiller than water and easy to crack.

I wonder – does it glance at you as you pass

Not looking at the world reflected?

Hung framed on a cracked and faded wall,

We contain the screaming likeness of ourselves

So we can simmer to sleep, to let peace enthrall.

One world is enough it seems,

Without another one to shatter.

Tell me – if we break their world,

Here on this side, will it matter?

Bad luck follows our guilt

As we try to make amends.

The mirrors are always watching

Even if we try to pretend

That we are the only copy of ourselves,

And that we remain unique.

I wonder – what would your reflection

Say to you, if only it could speak?