In The Mirror (Poem)

So, I had my first meeting with my Poetic Forms class last Thursday, and it has scared the bejeesus out of me. They're analyzying all the little things about poems and how the writers added small things and everything and I realized that my poetry does not contain all the literary techniques that my teacher stressed. So, I've been working on cleaning up my poetry some, trying to develop a new sort of voice that incorporates both my method of writing (just putting together words, thoughts, and feelings that I think belong together) along with the technical aspect of writing (including literary elements and such). So I'll probably be posting more poems as I write them, but this is one I worked on today trying to mess with slant rhymes. I've always hated slant rhymes, but my teacher stresses how they're better in modern days than the traditional rhyme, so I figured I'd give them a try just the same. Feel free to critique if the mood strikes you.

There’s a shadow in the mirror

That I pretend to know.

I knew her once, I think,

Long, long ago.

Or maybe that was a dream,

A product of an overactive mind.

(They do say I have too much free time).

There’s a monster in her eyes,

A concept there I fear.

I know she doesn’t think like us.

She tries to be sincere,

Or maybe that’s the game she plays,

But it’s wrong that she won’t think the same.

(Perhaps she tries, but all in vain).

There’s a style in her speech.

Something I remember, but yet don’t—

I think I could maybe understand,

But I know that I won’t.

I fear too much what she might say.

So I’ll cling to ignorance the best I can.

(Yes, I’ll construct the Tower of Babel again).

There’s a sadness in her heart.

I know because mine is breaking, too.

There’s a pain there that her soul reveals

That her conscious never knew.

I reached out my hand to save her once,

But I don’t think she wanted to be saved.

(Maybe that’s because it’s easier to just not feel the pain).