The mirror, the ugly mirror,
it lies all day when it looks at me.
Judges me with a reflection of
laughter, shards of disgust.
Or it’s the people, all the people,
patronizing me with condescending
tongues, and eyes that cannot
be seeing the same as the mirror.
It cuts into me like stares that
stab my soul with every gaze,
and I don’t know how to make it
stop. I am not seeing myself in
the same light as the mirror,
the people, the blind reflection.
But maybe it’s me who’s lying.
Maybe I am the one who never
learned to look at myself
without turning away, the same
way eye contact feels wrong.
That’s the truth, the guilty truth.
I missed the lesson somewhere
along the way about embracing
beauty. I missed out on embracing
a lot of things. But honestly,
the only guilt in the truth of it all
is the way I should have learned
decades ago to recognize that
there’s no shame in looking in
the mirror and saying,
I am beautiful… just like this.
I never learned that though,
so I avoid it altogether.
But if you are reading this,
you are beautiful, you are.
Look in the mirror every day
and repeat it until you see it
with your own eyes.
You are beautiful.
I am beautiful.
All of us, so beautiful.
©2017 Stephanie Bennett-Henry
Stephanie Bennett-Henry 
This is a remarkable thing to see to start the day. I know exactly what you mean even though, as a guy, “beauty” is not culturally spoken of in the same way, still it is there, and so are the mirrors to avoid, and the opinions of others that can be discounted.
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Thank you ❤️❤️
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Reblogged this on cabbagesandkings524 and commented:
Stephanie with a reflection and challenge
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Reblogged this on Sudden Denouement Literary Collective.
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What a way to own it. “…It cuts into me like stares that stab my soul with every gaze,…” Very nice writing.
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Reblogged this on Brave and Reckless and commented:
Brilliant, powerful writing from Stephanie Bennett-Henry
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You are beautiful, for sure, and we are all beautiful in our own ways. I loved this, as I love most things you write. Thank you, once again!
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Thank you ❤️
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And so are you! I relate so much to this. Raw, honest, tragic and empowering. Lovely to meet you, Stephanie.
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The struggle’s there everyday but we are so much more than mirrors, staring strangers and condescending individuals.
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Beauty
I look in the mirror once a day
Just to make sure, I look okay
My hair and teeth are brushed
My cheeks are lightly blushed
Suspicious spots undercover
To avoid the unwanted once over
Never again throughout the day
Do I take the time to look my way
Beauty is as beauty does
A true beauty, I never was
The beauty is not in my face
But can be found in another place
Not seen as my reflection
But still,…. perfection
My beauty is in my soul and heart
From which I promise it will never part
Years from now. my hair, my face, my eyes
Will have a NEW disguise.
Beauty of my soul and heart, never cold
As I do grow old
Christina L. Pearson
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