July 17, 2020

Stolen Glances

Every time I turn to peer 
at my reflection in the mirror,

a cruel bargain comes in play:
the glass takes off another day

from my expected living span.
Its vanity's fair payment plan.

Each time I look I pay, alas.
I see already how the glass

has laced its silver in my hair,
my youth was stolen unaware.

The real me fades away,
glance by glance, day by day,

until too late I'll turn to see
the mirror has stolen off with me.

John Thornberg, poetryfoundation.org, 2019

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