i once watched someone lie
it looked exactly like telling the truth
it was only years later
that i saw the consequence
emerging from who they had turned into

the person in the mirror is an old, old friend of mine
you would think that she would be my enemy
judging on my history
but time has a way of redefining judgement
experience has a way of re-evaluating importance
grace has a way of breaking down pride

the person in the mirror is constantly evolving
sometimes so much so that she does not align with me
she will be my neighbor
she will be my mother
she will be a perfect stranger
she will be everything else in between

the person in the mirror sees the finish line
before i have tied my laces
before i have found the beginning
she will coach me in a way
that no other can perceive
before i even know it
we will both be in a place no one can see

the person in the mirror is an old, old friend of mine
she used to be my critic
she used to be my opponent
but love has a way of healing the deepest childhood wounds
peace has a way of emerging after endurance

fairy dust in the air
settling on each of them
silent understanding
lingering,
comfortable,
right.
not one of them noticed me
deliberately, in the background
casting my invisible spells
creating the comfort
they all so desperately needed
six people surrounded by isolation
in search for some sort of remedy
a cure to an ache that burns slowly
the fairy dust seeped into their skin
the comfort enveloped them
the magic was working
they all began to look like each other
the courage took hold
they each began to speak
the curse of fear broken

not quite competent at being human
not quite competent at being alive
it's hard to find the way to the pass grade
when the map has been hidden
when the study notes are lost in the fire

not quite competent at being human
an alien inside a body unfamiliar
it's hard to be a woman
when the blood that is shed monthly
is seen as offensive
when the blood shed comes from wars
fought years ago

not quite competent at being human
but competent at being brave
it's easier to keep passing through
when i ensure that my voice is being used
when integrity is being pursued

not quite competent at being human
but competent at being creative
it's easier to breathe this air
when an art form is being prepared

not quite competent at being human
not quite competent at being accepted
but competent in accepting others
competent in accepting that the problem is theirs