The Mirror

I looked into the mirror
and it was a foggy gray
as if just beneath the glass
swirled the foggiest of days

So I splayed my fingers out
and touched against the glass
Far too curious to doubt
and I slipped into the mirror

and my eyes they gazed in wonder
at the wonders they had found
and I took a few more steps along
the softly sanded grounds

and with my hand outstretched,
it was a wonder I could see
another person standing there
with his hand stretched out towards me

His eyes were sad, his body worn
and as far as I could see
he was the only person
waiting there for me

and so I stepped forward
with my hand outstretched to his
til I wrapped my arms around him
and then I felt him tense

with my ear to his chest I could hear
the dull beating of his heart
and as I gave him a smile
he shoved me away with a start

And so I stood there staring
with a hurt look in my eyes
until I saw in his features
The clear signs of surprise

"What was that?" he asked me
as he stared straight back at me
"A hug" I answered softly
grinning tenderly

"Why did you reach out to me?"
I asked him with a smile
"I felt lonely." he answered
and I thought for awhile.

"Perhaps you've never had a hug,"
I replied with a frown
"could we try it again?" he asked me
as I glowered at the ground.

And so I wrapped my arms around him
and he, his around me
but then the hug was broken
as he was torn from me

and I fell back through the mirror
and I landed in my room
and I bolted to my feet
and I found my hopes in ruin

for where before the fog had been
the glass was crystal clear
and my own reflection stared at me
through the glass that was the mirror

and as I touched the glass again
I could only hear his voice
as he touched where my fingers were
and whispered me this verse.

"When you feel you need a hug
just reach out for my hand
and should the mirror let me
I will come into your land."

"And do not be surprised," he said
"If I call you here to me,
for only you and you alone
have caused my heart to beat."

And I stayed beside the mirror
long after he was through
and I dreamt that I was with him
every cold dark afternoon

and each day I would touch
the mirror's solid glass
and with each and every tear drop
another day seemed to pass

And every now and then I see him
where my reflection should be
and I try to touch his face
as he stands and stares at me

and his saddened eyes they tell me
that the mirror won't let him through
and our hands outstretched to each other
says to me our hearts are true.

and so each day I rise now
and I fog up the glass
and I write to him a letter
and wait as time goes passed

And If I wait there long enough
my letter disappears
and scrawled upon the mirror then
his own words persevere

I've quickly learned to read backwards
the words he always scrawls
in perfect swirling letters
that keep my heart enthralled

"Do not feel discouraged
though the glass won't let us through
for someday, somehow, I know
that I will find my way to you

and when you're feeling weary
just remember this I plead
that you and you alone
have caused my heart to beat"

My heart it's beating faster
than it ever was before
and it's all because my mirror
became an open door

and when I'm feeling weary
I remember just one thing
the reason I keep going
and keep dealing with the pain

is I know that someone's watching me
and trying to find a way
to return the hug I gave to him
and I know he will one day.

© 2010 Sarah Hale