By-Radhika R
today
when you stand
in front of the mirror
the reflection that stares
back at you
shall be cold yet strangely familiar
surely it can’t be her
your mind murmurs in protest
it cannot be the woman
you once refused to be
what did you do to
the delicate young maiden
who only knew to lament
to her heart’s content
and wipe her tears away
with no living soul
to grieve for her plight
what happened to the woman
who woke up every morning
to tear soaked pillows
and sheets pockmarked with blood
pretending to be fine
surely it can’t be her
your brain whizzes in agony
unable to get your head around
this new dawn
it can never be the woman
you once refused to be
what happened to the woman
who continued to offer love
even when she was left incomplete
what happened to the broken pieces
left wedged within the bounds
of her beating heart
who is this woman, is she her?
stronger, stoic, emotionless and rational(?)
what has this world turned her into?
a vile, heartless creature of the dark?
what happened to my damsel in distress?
why doesn’t she seem as distressed anymore?
and as you look back at the mirror
you feel the glass creaking under
the strength of your reflection
this long slice of glass cannot hold
the new skins you have grown into
it might be a cage, closing in on you
but remember it is made of glass
and just like all the other things in your life
this glass too shall break
and as you close your pairs and let
the last drop of tear sneak from
those beautiful doe eyes of yours
the mirror shall shatter
shatter into a million shards of obscurity
and now, you my love is a free woman
you are no longer entrapped
seething with pain and fury
feeling emotions so intense
this cage of glass can never contain
this my love is the time to rejoice
open your eyes, raise your head
and walk out of the room
cheer oh cheer
because you my dear
is now a woman, free as wildfire
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This poem has been published in the book 'The Last Flower Of Spring'. Buy the paperback copy on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y9sydnxn