by Michelle W.
Member since:
April 17, 2007

BROKEN MIRRORS

March 26, 2009 04:25 PM EDT (Updated: April 28, 2009 08:04 AM EDT)
views: 171 | comments: 55

This phrase woke me up in the middle of the night along with the thought, "This is the book of poetry you will write."  And so, here is another poem, dedicated to the life I share with my daughter and the chaos addiction causes.

 

BROKEN MIRRORS

I am surrounded
by silver shards,
  reality destroyed,
  rearranged,
by mere slivers
  scattered
upon the ground.

It was once a mirror.
In reflections of me
I tried to see you,
  but somehow
  I lost you.

The mirror is broken.

Rage
Frustration
Helplessness
Misunderstanding

They each play their part
meandering through my mind,
making me look again
  and again
for what I will not find.

You in me,
  me in you.

And in one great shout
  of horror,
   dispair,
the mirror broke.

I see not me.
I see not you.

But when the sun rises
on the new dawn

something beautiful
will sparkle and dance
again.

 

Michelle Wooten
© 3-24-09

 

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Comments: 55

JOHN BECK Mar 26, 2009, 4:32pm EDT
Vivid poem of despair and hope.
Svetlana Goryacheva Mar 26, 2009, 4:51pm EDT
"But when the sun rises
on the new dawn

something beautiful
will sparkle and dance
again."

Amen to that, my dear friend! :-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.
Kelly Kay Mar 26, 2009, 4:59pm EDT
In the end hope arises... great poem!
Joe W. Mar 26, 2009, 5:29pm EDT
Graphic, stunning and hope rises in the end.. this is a very well-written and heartfelt work. Thank you for sharing it.
Marsha S. Mar 26, 2009, 5:56pm EDT
I'm here helping you get more views with the Viewmasters Group
Michelle W. Mar 26, 2009, 7:27pm EDT
Thank you, John. They both, despair and hope, remain vivid for me.

Svetlana, thanks!

Joe, I really appreciate your comment. Thank you for reading!

Marsha, thanks! The more the merrier!
Michelle W. Mar 26, 2009, 8:19pm EDT
Kelly! Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!
David W. Mar 26, 2009, 10:02pm EDT
From where I sit this is a masterpiece of understanding and prose.

"It is not what happens, it is what you do about it that counts." Since my son passed these are the words I hang my life upon.
Michelle W. Mar 26, 2009, 10:10pm EDT
Kelly, twice now I have left a thank you, I hope this one shows!
Michelle W. Mar 26, 2009, 10:12pm EDT
jeje Yeah Kelly!!!

David, that you read these poems and that they touch you, means more than I can say. From my heart to your heart, thank you!
Jennifer Lee Mar 26, 2009, 11:23pm EDT
This is wonderfully penned and poignant. Your poem resonates with me on so many levels that I don't dare explain. Thank you for posting to our group.
Ann M. (Site Scryer) Mar 27, 2009, 10:38am EDT
Thank you for posting this to The Surreal Circus.
Ann M. (Site Scryer) Mar 27, 2009, 10:39am EDT
Is The Lady of Shalott narrating?

"The mirror crack'd from side to side/The curse is come upon me,/cried/The Lady of Shalott"
Carole S. Mar 27, 2009, 10:45am EDT
Very nicely done. I could feel your pain and frustration and your hope.
Michelle W. Mar 27, 2009, 12:33pm EDT
Thank you, Jennifer. I am hoping this poem and the others like it, resonate with many!

Thank you, Ann!

Carole, I am so glad the hope comes through!
Haim Kadman Mar 27, 2009, 1:52pm EDT
Now I see, the snippet was just 'hors-d'oeuvre' of a great poem.
Michelle W. Mar 27, 2009, 2:10pm EDT
he he he Yes, Haim, it was just a "taste" ...I could not fix the poem to be 30 words!

shalom!
John F Walter Mar 27, 2009, 2:41pm EDT
You use the image of shattering powerfully to set up the terrible realization of the inability to ´see´ the beloved; emotional intimacy has been severed for a time. But then, you pick up the pieces. Part of life is one person always picking up the pieces. Strongly felt poem, Michelle.
Michelle W. Mar 27, 2009, 3:10pm EDT
Thank you, John. Sometimes, things seem better and then all of a sudden a wound reappears, like from a sliver ... I am glad you felt something!

Peace
Georgiana S. Mar 27, 2009, 8:13pm EDT
the macrocsom of the whole mirror shatters into many microcosms of the same existence!
Michelle W. Mar 28, 2009, 8:35pm EDT
Yes ... exactly, Georgiana! Thanks for reading!
A. F. Stewart Mar 30, 2009, 1:40pm EDT
A very powerful poem.
Michelle W. Mar 30, 2009, 1:41pm EDT
Thank you, A F ...I hope to touch lives.
Wrick D. Mar 30, 2009, 2:38pm EDT
thoughts: being open, as in this poem, about life - i think that is a good thing - in itself your poem does this. also the idea that things do resurface - however it is what we do and go onto from each moment that counts - even when it's difficult we can still make that choice, yes - i like that your hope is still moving in that direction - it gives the reader a sense that this is always possible - i like that too and wish you and your daughter good moments that make good memories from this moment on..
Michelle W. Mar 30, 2009, 2:54pm EDT
Thank you, Wrick, for you thoughtful response and your good wishes. As bad as things have been, I hope to always give hope!
necee t. Apr 2, 2009, 1:53pm EDT
oh dear this is sooo emotional... Blessings to you and your dear family...
Michelle W. Apr 2, 2009, 2:02pm EDT
Thank you, Necee!
William Dotani Apr 3, 2009, 4:55pm EDT
Deeply personal. The use of the mirror to show the despair in your soul also has the reflection that caused such despair before the break down in your relationship. I like that you end with hope. Such thought: May it be.
Michelle W. Apr 3, 2009, 7:35pm EDT
Thank you, William. I believe that where there is love, there is hope.

blessings
Mustafa Demiri Apr 4, 2009, 12:11am EDT
Powerful symbolism! How like mirrors are all relationships, and when shattered, how like all the dreadful shards that we are so keen to avoid. A masterful work
Rony J. Apr 4, 2009, 12:42am EDT
Amazing Words, made me go back in time whe I lost the love of my life,
great write,
God Bless
Michelle W. Apr 4, 2009, 8:43am EDT
Mustafa, thank you. I think sometimes symbols are all we have to describe intensity that hurts beyond words.

Rony, I am so sorry for that loss ... and I thank you for your kind words. May you find comfort in your poetry!
Benita K. Apr 13, 2009, 8:50am EDT
I like the ending message of hope.
Michelle W. Apr 13, 2009, 12:13pm EDT
Benita, Thank you ... Sometimes hope is all I have!

peace,
Darren ("Site Psychologist ") Lynn Apr 25, 2009, 3:27pm EDT
grand indeed. thank you for this.
Michelle W. Apr 25, 2009, 4:50pm EDT
Darren, you are welcome, and thanks for reading!
Granny Janny H. Apr 28, 2009, 1:08am EDT
Please post this to Poet's Weekly Muse .
Your metaphor works so well for the way life experience can break the beauty of innocence.
Michelle W. Apr 28, 2009, 8:05am EDT
Thank you, Granny! And I did just post to Poet's Weekly Muse. My hope is that in the rearranging of the pieces, a new beauty can emerge.
Ann M. (Site Scryer) Apr 28, 2009, 8:18am EDT
I like your re-write. This seems to be about the ego-merging (and breaking) inherent in close relationships.
Ann M. (Site Scryer) Apr 28, 2009, 8:19am EDT
Thank you for posting this to The Surreal Circus. You are now featured.
Michelle W. Apr 28, 2009, 8:22am EDT
Ann, I think as a parent it is natural for me to want my daughter to have the same values, principles, ideas that I have and at the same time, save her from the pain I went through to develop those values, principles and ideas. I could not save her, and so she is going though her own pain, and I can just watch and know that she will shine one day!

Thanks for the feature, you are wonderful!
Janie E. Apr 28, 2009, 8:57am EDT
Your poem resonates to me because of the fact I'm having issues with my sister and her family.

Love the message of hope at the end!
Michelle W. Apr 28, 2009, 10:12am EDT
Janie, that is my hope ... to write what will resonate with others, that they may know they are not alone, and that someone else has felt what they feel ... Thank you for letting me know!

peace,
Sheila Deeth Apr 28, 2009, 7:36pm EDT
Very powerful image.
Michelle W. Apr 30, 2009, 2:03pm EDT
Thanks, Sheila!
Chana M. May 2, 2009, 5:54pm EDT
Michelle, this touches my heart. You describe the chaos so well. It gets to the point where you can't see anymore. Ending on a note of hope fits in so well with the rest of the poem. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this @ Art - Any Medium!
Michelle W. May 4, 2009, 2:23pm EDT
Thank you, Chana, for your group and for the comment. I hope I can always see a bit of hope among the "ruins".

peace
Patti M. May 17, 2009, 8:03pm EDT
Hope springs eternal. I love the ending.
Patti M. May 17, 2009, 8:03pm EDT
Thank you for your comment on my post.
Michelle W. May 19, 2009, 1:44pm EDT
Paul and Patti, Thanks for coming by and reading and commenting. I hope always to have hope. There was a time when I did not even want the hope, but today, I do.
Dawn (a poet on the wall) May 29, 2009, 12:49pm EDT

amen!
Dawn (a poet on the wall) May 29, 2009, 12:50pm EDT

this poem inspires me to write
Michelle W. Sep 5, 2009, 11:59am EDT
Thank you, Dawn! As I find inspiration in the words of other, it pleases me no end that others might find inspiration in me!
René Allen Sep 4, 2009, 11:22pm EDT
You are TALENTED beyond measure Michelle. This is truly EXCELLENT WRITING!

I really enjoyed this.

HUGS ~
Your Friend,
René
Michelle W. Sep 5, 2009, 11:59am EDT
Thank you, René. I am so glad you read this!

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