Performed by Val Cole
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POEM:
My Reflection Has Notes
The light in my life is my foe.
I look in the mirror
In the bewitching and treacherous gold of the afternoon
And see the imperfections
I see every spot and pore
Created by ineffable voices
Of undoing in my head
Conjured from every snarky sneer or jeer
Any moan or murmur that strays from an
Unedged face
I hide behind a silhouette that is not my own
It does not feel like my own
I like the way I see myself at night
Not hidden behind the smiles and polite nods
That give me confidence to leave the safety of the silhouette
That is not my own
I don’t like the light.