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Memoir of a Mirror

When a tree falls in a forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

When a flower blooms in spring, and no one is there to smell it, does it have a scent?

When something is reflected in a mirror, and no one is there to see it, does it have a reflection?

I show to be seen, but what is there to be shown when my audience cannot see?

Do I offer a portal, to an alternate universe, to a deep abyss where everything is exactly as it seems but is nothing that it is?

Or do I merely give an image for vanity's sake, to tell you exactly what you want to hear, or see, or touch?

You reach to feel, but how can you feel what you don't know exists?

Do you know whom you are reaching for, what you are reaching for, if you're reaching for anything?

Will I suck you in, will I change your perspective, will I alter your belief system and show you a whole other reality?

Does anything exist if it cannot be proven?

You sit and stare, stare at nothing, you see blackness, trying to imagine what I am showing you.

Sitting in front of me for hours, and I, I cannot even tell you if you are seeing an illusion, or if there is even anything to be seen.

Unmoving, unblinking, hardly even breathing, I question my own existence, as well as yours, as well as the universe.

And I question your motive, why do you wish to know what I withhold? What drives this desire to acquire the well of wisdom and knowledge I supposedly reflect?

Do you think I will show you who you really are? Will I reveal things beyond my own power, if only you could physically see it, touch it?

And with one swift movement you reach for me, for yourself, for something

And all is forgotten

And then I wonder....

When a tree falls in a forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

Author notes

Option 15 best prewrite

In a list

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 16 of 16
  • ArielMaria
    January 15

    Edit | Reply
    This is very beautiful and as you said, very deep. Alot of meaning and a meaning vivid and very solid. I loved it! This poem is one of my favorites!


  • I.am.the.sun.
    January 15

    Edit | Reply
    wow, its good, but i agree with the others, i wouldnt call it a poem, more prose. good questions, it reminded me of something i was talking about with my brother a few months ago. how if someone is thinking about something, it undeniably exists, somewhere, somehow. if no one thought about trees falling in the forest, and wether or not they made a sound, then by default, they wouldnt make any sound at all. as soon as the question arises, it must make a sound, because suddenly trees are falling in the forest.


  • MightyBoosh
    January 11
    Edit | Reply
    Thats amazing, i loved it!


  • islekine silver member
    January 4

    Edit | Reply

    Although this is an age old

    question...you have put quite a twist to it...
    Made me stop and think...I agree with Zach it is more prose than poetry...but well penned, nonetheless!
    Best wishes in the contest and always!
    Write on!


  • Zach.
    January 4
    Edit | Reply
    Such profound questions, each of which made me stop and think for a minute.

    I'm not so completely fond of prose-poetry -- there are very few prose-poems that could not be improved by shaping them into verse; but I rather like this.

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Good luck.
    Zach

  • Terry-too silver member
    January 3
    Edit | Reply
    I could not see it.

    • evilangel311
      January 3
      Edit | Reply
      It helps to read the prompt for the first contest it was entered in, because it was written for that specific one =]. And if you still don't understand it after that we could discuss it if you like =]

  • joelegy
    January 2

    Edit | Reply
    I love this.
    many of the feelings are things i also think of.
    the wording i beautiful and everything flows together.
    one of the bes i've read in awhile.


  • insideinsanity
    January 1

    Edit | Reply
    What a spectacular piece. It rushes from the original question through a spiral of twists and turns, erupting to a pinnacle in an exploration of self...only to remember the bigger things, the original questions.

    Glorious.


  • Shrat
    January 1
    Edit | Reply
    Wow. I really, really like this. Usually, I have to force myself to read non-rhyming poems, but I couldn't pull myself away from this one. You described so well the life of a mirror, and made it so believable that what you said is actually what the mirror would say were it able. Great job!


  • karma-n-peace gold member
    January 1
    Edit | Reply
    Provoking thoughts, great write.

    Do you think I will show you who you really are? Will I reveal things beyond my own power, if only you could physically see it, touch it?

    This is my favorite peice of the write, as I myself am always looking for answers outside of myself.
    Not disappointed I read this; at all.
    Bravo!


  • adsaige gold member
    December 2, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Alright, if I know Mama Jin, then she fines this write rather intriguing. By definition, the answers to your questions would be NO. This is certainly a brilliant piece. Lindsay was right....

  • j i n gold member
    December 2, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    funny, this question was just going through my mind the other day, during my hike. Except, I changed it to a tree burning, because there was this old Ponderosa pine just standing there, and had been for years.
    Excellent write, lots of questions pretty deep stuff here.
    Love,
    Jin


  • Edwardlover
    December 1, 2008
    Edit | Reply

    wow

    This really changes your perspective on things!
    nice one
    tibby

  • Amazon Huntress
    November 30, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    You've really hit on the existential questions of the theme, a lengthy piece, yet it kept me intrigued, questionning the thoughts and the feelings, the mind and the spirit. I like the way you build the physical situation to the climax before tumbling back to the initial thoughts.
    I'd like to meet this mirror - to pick it's brains - if it has any! (Unmoving, unblinking, hardly even breathing, I question my own existence, as well as yours...)

    Thanks for entering!
    *~Huntress~*


    • evilangel311
      November 30, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you, I thought the mirror's perspective would offer the most unbiased story and I could concentrate more on the concept of a blind girl looking at her reflection. I really enjoyed writing for this contest, you should absolutely host another dream inspired contest
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