Which Side of the Looking Glass

by Justine C. Tajonera

There are two sides to the looking glass:
the side I'm on and the
reflection.

I rarely cross to
the other
side.

There are many things
I do not understand
about the reflection,
I want to shape,
to sculpt
what I
see.

Sometimes, I do not know
her at all.

What shape has she bloated
into?
What flaws are evident
and hidden?
Does she have
a genuine
smile?

If the subject abdicates,
what of the
object?

The great unkown
looms behind me,
the reverse of everything
I see.
If I were
on the other
side,
would I reach out
and touch
the
glass
between us.

(Jan. 11, 2010)
Image from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Through_the_Looking-Glass.jpg

Body in the Mirror

By Justine C. Tajonera

What does my skin
tell me other than
how much time
has passed?

the shape of my
belly, the scar
on my groin,
the calluses on
the soles of
my feeet

tell a story about
me
that I could
never put
into words.

There are things
that I might hide
but nothing could be
more plain than:
my happiness worn
on my bones,
my beauty,
the glowing lamp
beneath
my skin.

(Jan. 4, 2010)

Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtraker/1432497518/