If she could only break the glass--
the silver is already peeled back like first skin
leaving a thin
transparent thing that floats across the ground
in front of her: this white shadow.

1. what a mirror thinks
a mirror thinks it has no self
so it wants to be everything it sees

it also thinks everything is flat

put a bunch together
& they think they see
the back side of the moon

2. the mirror as a judge of character
keening my appetite
on the taste of an image of myself
sharpening myself
on bones;
suddenly
i lean over its eye
& see the way i see myself

i ask it
am i fairest in all the land

it opens like a backwards lake
& throws out of its center
a woman
combing her hair
with the fingers of the dead

3. the mirror & suicide
someday
stand before a mirror & feel
you are drowned
let
your hair spread as sweet Ophelia's did
& you will rock
back & forth
gently
like a boat in kind water

4. questions to ask a mirror
remember
whatever you ask a mirror
it will ask back

if you ask it
what will you give me
it will ask you
what will you give me

if you ask it what is love
it will turn into a telescope
& point at you

if you ask it what is hate
it will do the same thing

if you ask it what is truth
it will break in nine pieces

if you ask it what is beauty
it will cast no reflection

if you ask it to show you the world
it will show you the eye of your mother

5. conversing with the mirror
never tell a mirror you are black
it will see you as a rainbow
never tell a mirror you are white
it will make you disappear
in fact a mirror doesn't care
what color you are

never tell a mirror
how old you are
under 20
you draw a blank
over 40 it stares

never cry in front of a mirror
it gets cruel

if a mirror doesn't trust you
it squints

if a mirror hates you
it speaks in a high-pitched voice

if a mirror calls you long distance
don't accept charges hang up

never run from a mirror
it always leaves a friend outside

never have sex with a mirror
you will have in-grown children

don't take money from a mirror
there are strings

if you must converse with a mirror
say to it: you're pretty
& won't get broken

that gives you
7 years

6. the mirror & time
the mirror IS NOT immortal
in fact it only has nine lives:

the first one is a thief
the second a baker
the third plays the harpsichord
the fourth lives in the iron-bound
section of newark &
eats pork sausage
the fifth predictably drinks
the sixth goes into the convent
but the seventh (this gets better)
marries her father
& humps up like a camel
the eighth cries a lot and ZAP
changes into a writer

7. the mirror & metamorphosis

the eye in the mirror is the mirror of the eye

8. the mirror & the new math
inside the mirror
opens up like the number zero
you swim around in there
bob up
& drown
like the rat in Wonderland's flood.
your tail would like to hook a reason,

but you keep coming
face to face
breast to breast
with yourself.

you fall backwards & away, even
think that you are lost
In Oceanic O,

but you are still
pinned to an inverse.

9. the mirror as a silent partner
the mirror never talks
it is always astounded
with its O mouth open
& everything falling in

Epilogue:
Always straining toward her imag

Take off my shirt. Loosen the buttons
and undo my skirt, Stare at myself in the mirror
Take me apart peace by peace, Sorrow decrease
Pressure release, I put in work
Did more than called upon, More than deserved
When it was over, Did I wind up hurt (Yes)
But it taught me before a decision ask this question first

Who am I living for?
Is this my limit, Can I endure somemore
Chances are given, Question Existing
Who am I living for?
Is this my limit, Can I endure somemore
Chances are given, Question Existing

Take off my cool, show them that
under here, I'm just like you
Do the mistakes, I may make me a fool
Or a human with loss, and if that I'm loss
Round of applause, Take the abuse
Sometimes it feels like they want me to lose
It's entertainment is that an excuse? (No)
But the question that lingers whether win or lose

Who am I living for?
Is this my limit, Can I endure somemore
Chances are given, Question Existing
Who am I living for?
Is this my limit, Can I endure somemore
Chances are given, Question Existing

Dear Diary,
And to all them
Entertaining is something I do for a living
It's not who I am, I'd like to think that I'm pretty normal,
I laugh, I get mad, I hurt, I think
I suck sometimes,
But when you're in the spotlight,
Everything seems good,
Sometimes I feel like i have it worse cause I have to always keep my guard up,
I don't know who to trust, I don't know who wants to date me for who I am,
Or who wants to be my friend for who I really am,

Who am I living for?
Is this my limit, Can I endure somemore
Chances are given, Question Existing
Who am I living for?
Is this my limit, Can I endure somemore
Chances are given, Question Existing

Help, I have done it again
I have been here many times before
Hurt myself again today
And, the worst part is there's no-one else to blame

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Ouch I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break
Lost myself again and I feel unsafe

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me