emhawkerblog

The blog about reading, writing, singing, familying and verbing.

  • Home
  • About me
  • Book reviews
    • For children
    • For grown-ups
  • Writing
  • Family life
  • Songs
    • Rewrites
    • Music group programs
  • Reflection
  • Contact

Mirror, Mirror

February 23, 2016 By Emily 57 Comments

Image source - used with permission

Image source – used with permission

 

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall,
Who is the fairest one of all?

Who is the wisest? Who is most kind?
Who listens to others? Who speaks their mind?

Who thinks that all their life’s learning is done?
Who knows their learning has just begun?

 

Mirror, Mirror, what do you see?
Do you see my reflection or do you see me?

Do you see my eyes, my face, my hair?
Or do you see the qualities under there?

I am only human; I do what I do.
Am I truly reflected in you?

 

Mirror, Mirror, look within.
Look past my nose, my freckles, my skin.

See the truth that lies inside:
Sometimes I fail, but always I’ve tried.

Sometimes I hurt, sometimes I feel joy.
Sometimes I’m confident: other times, coy.

 

Mirror, Mirror, who am I?
Sometimes I’m happy, sometimes I cry.

Sometimes I’m scared: other times, secure.
Sometimes I’m lost: other times, sure.

Sometimes I hide, but always I’m real.
I sympathise, empathise, celebrate, feel.

 

Mirror, Mirror, this is me.
I’m who I am and all I can be.

I’m not just my face, my body, my hair.
I’m not my things, nor what I wear.

You can see me, and I can see you.
Mirror, Mirror, reflect me true.

—

 

What does the mirror reveal to you about you?

Filed Under: Reflection, Writing Tagged With: mirror, reflection, words, writing

« International Book Giving Day giveaway!
Oh, the Blogs You’ll Blog! »

Comments

  1. Raychael aka Mystery Case says

    February 23, 2016 at 11:23 am

    Love this. I honestly have a love hate relationship with mirrors right now. I try to avoid them at all costs. Which makes getting ready interesting. The latest, experimental meds have me piling on the weight and the swelling in my face and neck over Christmas thanks to the meds really made me look like a puffer fish out of water.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:37 pm

      Thanks Raychael. You poor thing. It’s bad enough feeling uncomfortable without being happy about the way you look, either.

      Reply
  2. Jodi Gibson says

    February 23, 2016 at 11:30 am

    Beautiful Em. Something I needed to read right now. The mirror hasn’t been my friend lately, all I can see is my aging face. The sun spots, fine lines, wrinkles, blotchiness, the way my cheeks and eyelids have begun to sag. I need to tell myself to look past that. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:39 pm

      Thanks Jodi. Means a lot. I hope you see more of yourself when you look in the mirror now.

      Reply
  3. Sammie @ The Annoyed Thryoid says

    February 23, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    I love the sentiment of this post and the rhyme! You so clever! A reflection is so much more than a physical manifestation as your post suggest, we need to love what’s on the inside as much as the outside. If we all loved ourselves a little bit more, imagine how awesome it would be to bask in that reflection of self love! PS Please excuse my blatant over use of exclamation marks.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:39 pm

      Thanks Sammie! Bring on the exclamation marks! Never apologise! I seem to remember you nominating yourself to head up EMA!!!!! in one of my Practical Grammactical posts last year.

      Reply
  4. Vicki @ Boiled Eggs & Soldiers says

    February 23, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    I love this Emily. All I see at the moment the reflection of a tired and cranky person I need to get back to seeing me. Really well said.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:41 pm

      Thanks Vicki. Perhaps instead of looking at a mirror, you’re looking at me – I’m so tired this week! Not. Enough. Sleep.

      Reply
  5. Denyse says

    February 23, 2016 at 12:46 pm

    Wow Em! That was a clever & powerful read within a simple format .. It really impacted me. Thank you. I’ve been seeing the person who is growing into herself as she moves into “old” age but with a slight spring in her step as she can see a more relaxed & smiling person within & without. This metamorphosis has occurred thanks to my greater knowledge & understanding of my inner self & acceptance of my body & face. I congratulate myself now (it’s taken decades for this change!) on what great things my body has achieved – giving birth twice, caring for my loved ones, teaching kids, achieving degrees and so on. Too many years spent disliking are now being replaced by gentle respect.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:42 pm

      Thanks Denyse – what a lovely comment and so great to hear those extra words of wisdom and reflection. Disliking ourselves and our reflections is a waste of time.

      Reply
  6. Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says

    February 23, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    It reveals that while I am fairly hairless on my body I seem to be extremely hairy on my face, except where I actually need it to be (like eyebrows and eye lashes). Damn mirror …

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      KAPOW! Take that, reflective comments! Thanks for the laugh. x

      Reply
  7. Denyse Whelan Blogs says

    February 23, 2016 at 4:08 pm

    Dear Em, I won’t add a new comment …I read your post before I saw I had your blog to comment on! Denyse#teamIBOT

    Reply
  8. Bec Bowyer says

    February 23, 2016 at 4:40 pm

    This is beautiful, Em. I’ve learned to avoid looking in the mirror too much. I do my best from day to day depending on the circumstances and just ignore the rest. If I like what I see I accept it. If I don’t, I just move on.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks Bec. Means a lot when my fellow writers like my words. x

      Reply
  9. Natalie @ our parallel connection says

    February 23, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    The mirror reflects someone I care for deeply but often neglect. Someone I love but often I hate. Someone who works too hard and need s a break ( I look exhausted)

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      Yes. Yes. Yes. Does your mirror reflect me? I hear you. Take care, you.

      Reply
  10. Nadia says

    February 23, 2016 at 8:26 pm

    Such a beautiful poem and a powerful message.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:48 pm

      Thank you Nadia. I appreciate that.

      Reply
  11. Ashleigh @ MyMeow says

    February 23, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    Beautiful and I was nodding the whole way down. As I get older, I worry less about what I look like, and more about the person I am, wan’t to be. Sometimes I think I am awesome, other times hideous, much like looking in the mirror Visiting from #IBOT.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:49 pm

      I think that’s it – now we’re full of lessons and life experience and skills and STUFF, we worry less about how we present. We’re more confident in and of ourselves, perhaps.

      Reply
  12. Hugzilla says

    February 23, 2016 at 8:46 pm

    STUPID INTERNET LOST MY LONG COMMENT

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:50 pm

      I’M SO SORRY THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW DAGNAMMIT NOW I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT SAID

      (x)

      Reply
  13. Robyna | The Mummy & The Minx says

    February 23, 2016 at 9:20 pm

    Articulate, funny, thoughtful and true,
    It’s within your words, I see reflections of you.

    xxx

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:51 pm

      Rhyming is so contagious, isn’t it? Thank you. x

      Reply
  14. EssentiallyJess says

    February 23, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    Oh Em this was great. I haven’t loved the mirror lately. Or more I haven’t loved what’s been reflected out of it, but really that’s only a part of who I am. I need to remember that.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      Thanks Jess. Yes you do, because GORGEOUSNESS.

      Reply
  15. Renee Wilson says

    February 23, 2016 at 10:44 pm

    God I love your writing. You’re so clever with words. This is beautiful.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      Means the world to me, Renee. Thank you.

      Reply
  16. Janet aka Middle Aged Mama says

    February 23, 2016 at 11:30 pm

    Very impressed with your poetry skills!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 1:53 pm

      Thanks Janet!

      Reply
  17. Denise says

    February 24, 2016 at 7:42 am

    I try and avoid the mirror first thing in the morning. Gorgeous poem, love the sentiment. You are so talented!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 2:00 pm

      Thanks Denise!

      Reply
  18. Jo @ You had us at hello says

    February 24, 2016 at 1:59 pm

    Much like the scales, we often ask the mirror to be kind! The more we look after ourselves, a better reflection we’ll find!! HEY! This rhyming fun is catchy!! Haha! Lovely poem Em xx

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 25, 2016 at 2:00 pm

      It certainly is catchy – nicely done! x

      Reply
  19. Lydia C. Lee says

    February 26, 2016 at 6:57 am

    I read somewhere that we never see our faces, only how it appears in reflections and photos…that’s kind of kooky isn’t it?

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 26, 2016 at 1:27 pm

      That’s interesting! And makes perfect sense.

      Reply
  20. Amy @ HandbagMafia says

    February 26, 2016 at 7:39 am

    Beautiful poem, Em. I’m not overly worried about my reflection but I think we do focus on the outward far too much these days.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 26, 2016 at 1:29 pm

      Thanks Amy. I can’t see that ending, but perhaps we can elevate the other attributes to at least match it.

      Reply
  21. Tonia Zemek says

    February 26, 2016 at 8:04 am

    I love this Em — the sentiment, the words, the rhythm. A great thing to read before heading into a busy weekend, thank you. x

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 26, 2016 at 1:30 pm

      You’re welcome! Thank you for your kind words.

      Reply
  22. Jody at Six Little Hearts says

    February 26, 2016 at 8:13 am

    Oh I LOVE this and I have to say I am currently living this daily at the moment. (Going through some serious life stuff at present.) Thanks so much for sharing this, it’s reached my core. X

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 26, 2016 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks Jody. I’m so glad it helped!

      Reply
  23. Kirsty @ My Home Truths says

    February 26, 2016 at 10:08 am

    Brilliant writing Em – bang on!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 26, 2016 at 1:46 pm

      Thank you Kirsty x

      Reply
  24. Deborah says

    February 26, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    I really love this Emily. I’m funny about mirrors and avoid them as much as possible. And that’s not only because I’ve gained so much weight and feel frumpy and fat and ugly. When I was young my father commented that looking at oneself in the mirror was vain and that’s stayed with me ever since. I’m not sure if he caught me at it or what, but I’ve always been embarrassed if someone’s seen me looking in a mirror and have never spent much time there.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 28, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks Deborah. I can see why that’s stuck with you. I certainly find it disconcerting if I’m talking to someone and I know their attention is elsewhere – and even more so when I realise that ‘elsewhere’ is their reflection!

      Reply
  25. Jennifer says

    February 27, 2016 at 2:19 am

    Beautiful…clever rhyme, powerful message! #fybf

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 28, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      Thank you very much, Jennifer.

      Reply
  26. dani @ sand has no home says

    February 27, 2016 at 8:54 am

    Oh dear, I have been avoiding the mirror altogether lately! Loved the poem 🙂

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 28, 2016 at 1:43 pm

      I avoided it so much this morning I’m pretty sure I went for a run with panda eyes! Ha!

      Reply
  27. Angie @ The Little Mumma says

    February 27, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    Mirrors are fickle friends at best and flat out liars at worst. I find the most useful reflection of myself is found by looking at my family and friends. They show me the truth, good and bad. And I realise that being surrounded by such incredible people must mean I’m kind of okay, too.

    xx

    Reply
    • Emily says

      February 28, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      This is such a great comment, thank you. So considered. And yes – our friends are certainly a better reflection of us than those pesky mirror things.

      Reply
  28. Keira says

    February 28, 2016 at 11:07 pm

    Oo, nice one! Thanks for sharing Em xo

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 1, 2016 at 7:33 pm

      Thanks Keira!

      Reply
  29. Tash @ Gift Grapevine says

    March 4, 2016 at 3:41 pm

    I love this Em. I can picture this as a children’s book. Pair your beautiful words with some beautiful illustrations and I could happily cuddle with Miss T and read this. I’m sure it would raise a number of great and important conversations with her xx

    Reply
    • Emily says

      March 8, 2016 at 5:12 pm

      Thank you so much, Tash, and your comment that this could be a children’s book? Made my day. I wrote this on the fly one day and didn’t give it a second thought. I’m finding these responses overwhelming. x

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi! I’m Emily

I parent. I write. I blog. I play with words and numbers in my head. Constantly. It's crowded in there.

FOLLOW ME

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

SEARCH THIS SITE

View posts by month

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress