Sylvia Plath--"Mirror"

[kathryn0442.livejournal.com]

My absolute favorite Sylvia Plath poem

"Mirror"

I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.
Whatever I see I swallow immediately
Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.
I am not cruel, only truthful--
The eye of a little god, four-cornered.
Most of the time I meditate on the opposite wall.
It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long.
I think it is part of my heart. But it flickers.
Faces and darkness separate us over and over.

Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me,
Searching my reaches for what she really is.
Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.
I see her back, and reflect it faithfully.
She rewards me with tears and an agitation of hands.
I am important to her. She comes and goes.
Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness.
In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman
Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish.

Comments

[iamkatia.livejournal.com]

powerful.

[insidiousintent.livejournal.com]

i love this one too

Re: "I am not cruel, only truthful--"

[upatmidnight.livejournal.com]

how very true of Ms. Plath...and what a lesson i have learned from her writing...this is an amazing piece...one i've loved for a long time...great to see it being shared here...*soft smile*

Re: "I am not cruel, only truthful--"

[kathryn0442.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have learned many things from her writing--she was very intuitive--unfortunately that seems to have only led to her own demise....I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

Re: "I am not cruel, only truthful--"

[upatmidnight.livejournal.com]

sorry for the late reply...

it is sad that it did eventually lead to her own demise...
but often greatness can lead you to insanity...
or insanity can lead you to greatness...

either way...we are touched and lucky to have had these words...
her words...
they will live forever...
and always hold truths!

*soft smile*

[indigosarah.livejournal.com]

Excellent choice -- my favorite of Plath's too.