Staring Into a Mirror

03 March 2021 Wednesday Prose Poem Prompt: what wounds look like as they heal

Staring in the mirror, morning light coming from behind, the long aching wound that became my face is looking piqued and translucent. Whiskers, white and gray circle my face, creating ghosts of memories past; sadness that slipped away, heartache that never left its name. Who are you today? Do you remember the earlier self, the light-hearted, big-hearted boy who dabbled in self-doubt and careless introspection? Who laughed longingly at the world and prayed for its transformation as white doves crashed-landed into fields of war; endless legs marching toward endless ideals, twisting and turning in droning filibusters that spoke to no one but themselves. Old man looking at a world gone by, do you remember your words of grace? Your dreams of insurrection as happiness battered the lesser evils into submission. Leaving them languid by the roadside; limping back to homes with doors closed and windows shuttered, as the Past vied for control over a Future too stupid to realize it won. Staring into the mirror as my mind gathers yesterday’s thoughts and rallies them for one final surge forward into reminiscence; hoping this wound, like all past wounds, scars with delicate understanding.

The above springs forth from a prompt sent along by J.D. Harms. A reminiscent look at a world that’s changed greatly over the years, but still provides an abundance of hope. What’s your take on this prompt? Cheers.

Tree Langdon Karen Madej Dr Mehmet Yildiz Paul Myers MBA George J. Ziogas Amy Marley Harley King James Knight Salvatore Cagliari Caroline de Braganza Michele Thill Trista Ainsworth ScienceDuuude Eli Snow Gurpreet Dhariwal R Tsambounieri Talarantas Josie Elbiry janny’s heart Paroma Sen Kira Dawn Selma Liam Ireland Desiree Driesenaar Rebecca Romanelli