-too early for poem-writing-

the mirror hits the spot

for the young with a quick
last glance on the run —

it serves the aging
morning-groomers

prepping before the fall.

the mirror

confuses the senses

of cats

and last week, the parakeet

flew into it with a dull,

sickening thud as if

he'd had enough.

children often seem

puzzled by the mirror

as they neither appear to like
what they see nor dislike

what they see— and the blankness

of their expressions are instructive

as it goes that way with me sometimes,
either in presenting the articles
of surrender to its hard-hearted reflection
or simply moving on with a last

splash of warm water to my face.