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