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When I Gaze Into the Mirror

by cori-macnaughton

When I gaze into the mirror my mother's eyes peer out on the first day with a twinkle on the next a wistful pout Though our eyes are different colors more alike we are then no still her thoughts to me a mystery she may never choose to show The mirror on another day my grandmother becomes watching birds at breakfast saving them the finest crumbs Formidable and frightening she could also often be all too human and imperfect still she helped to make me me Great-grandmother another day the mirror then became though much lighter of complexion now the eyes were much the same Though a humorous and honest soul emotions quite repressed she affects me still more deeply than I ever would have guessed Today within the looking glass the only face I see is the youngest culmination of these elder women three And I see them all within me in my talents and my quirks still I wish that they had taught me how to stay away from jerks.
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Written by
cori-macnaughton
F
For You?
Written by
cori-macnaughton
F
Published
Sep 27, 2015
Lines·Words
35·172
Notes

Originally written 14 April 1999; posted today in response to a poem and subsequent conversation with Bill Hughes.

I have read this poem in public, but this is the first time it appears in print.

Tags
#family#mirror#child#grandparent#parent#ancestors#traits#resemblance#great-grandparent#inherited
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