Mirrors

MIRRORS

OUR OLDER BROTHERS
HAVE A CUSTOM
OF NEVER PRAYING BEFORE A MIRROR
THEIR EYES SHOULD BE ONLY ON GOD
NOT ON THE WORLD AROUND THEM

SIMILARLY
WHEN THEY SIT SHIVA
THE MIRRORS ARE COVERED
TO FORCE THEM TO LOOK TO OTHERS FOR COMFORT
RATHER THAN MOURN IN LONELY ISOLATION

THE FROG IN THE ORIENT
IS HELD UP AS AN EXAMPLE
TO A MEDITATING MONK
FULLY AWARE OF HIS SURROUNDINGS
WHILE NEVER LOSING HIS INNER PEACE
SO MANY TIMES
I AM MARTHA DRIVEN
WHILE BEING JEALOUS OF MARY

I OFTEN CHECK THE MIRROR IN THE MORNING
WHILE SHAVING OR BRUSHING MY TEETH
SAYING MY MORNING PRAYERS
INTERSPERSED WITH CHECKING MY HAIR
WHAT’S LEFT OF IT
CHECKING MY TEETH
MY SKIN FOR BLEMISHES
PLANNING MY DAY
SEEING IF I WAS STILL AS HANDSOME AS EVER
LOST IN THE MIRROR

IT BEHOOVES US TO LISTEN TO OUR OLDER BROTHER
LONG THOUGHT OUT RULES OF CONDUCT
TO COVER MIRRORS
AND DWELL IN PRAYER
IN THE BOSOM OF GOD


FRANK A VOLLMER