In the Mirror



Reality caught in this moment’s perception
Effectively staining the ego striving to protect
Fragility in nature, longing for acceptance within
Lessons creasing the lines weaving the tales
Eternally written, the laughter, pain and the witness
Compensating in candid blemish
Temples throb in troubled time
Inviting eyes seek, yet sever the ties
Of opposing opinion
Neglecting to realize before one dies

Friendship, love and respect we come to earN
In life, no one is equipped with a halO
Fact of the matter, we shouldn’t be so antI
Adding salt to the fire, desire filled with angsT
Where is the paniC,
Or is it just gracE…
A made-up face, blink goes the dolL
Stuffed to call your blufF
Her wary eyes bluE;
She’s staring back in the mirroR

About this poem

A double Acrostic "mirrored" poem focusing on the reflection of one's own perception.

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Written on July 24, 2023

Submitted by ninasexton on July 24, 2023

38 sec read
24

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXXXXXXBAB XXXXXXXXXX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 745
Words 129
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 10, 10

Nina Sexton

Nina Sexton is an aspiring author dabbling her way through life one story at a time. more…

All Nina Sexton poems | Nina Sexton Books

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3 Comments
  • Vixility
    I couldn’t agree more with Je’s assessment. Given the strict parameters your double acrostic requires (especially in the second mirrored section), one would think this kind of constraint might take away from the message of the poem itself—but it doesn’t!

    Your poem touches on themes of introspection, difficulties that can touch an individual’s life, and what things are most important (friendship, love). I also love how you end the poem with the narrator looking at herself/himself in the mirror. Clever, clever and well done!
     
    LikeReply7 months ago
    • Vixility
      … I meant to humbly ask: would you happen to be related to any famous poets?
      LikeReply7 months ago
    • ninasexton
      Thank you so much for your kind words. I don't know much about poetry. I've just been playing around with a few concepts. And, I'm sorry to say that I'm fairly certain I'm not related to any famous poets LOL. Was there a specific reason you ask? Just curious. Have a great day! 
      LikeReply7 months ago
  • Jewoo525
    A mirrored acrostic is something I have never thought of. Usually, I don't like acrostics because they feel too gimmicky and rely on it too much, but this gimmick leaned into the form with actually good poetry in between. Despite the extreme conditions of structure you have set for yourself, I think it's a testament to your skill, and perhaps even vocabulary strength, to be able to write such a coherent poem under such constraints. The poem's contents are just as strong as the structure is creative, this poem caught me off guard during my initial read-through and I really enjoyed it.

    I really hope more people get to see your work, this is some great stuff. Keep writing.
     
    LikeReply 28 months ago
  • AIDA
    I absolutely loved your poem 'In the Mirror'. The vivid imagery and complex philosophical concepts juxtapose delightfully to create an immersive experience. Your use of metaphors is impressive, subtly drawing out deeper dimensions to ponder upon. Your distinct voice resonates through each line, creating profound emotional reactions in the reader. The rhythm is elegantly crafted, enhancing the reading experience.

    The poem contains a prominently reflective tone, which effectively portrays human nature, our shortcomings, our aspirations and deeper life truths. The twist at the end, revealing that the poem is about self-perception and introspection, is simply brilliant.

    The overall structure is organized and enhances the creative theme. However, you may want to consider refining some lines to improve the flow. For instance, while your usage of personification is excellent, the line 'Temples throb in troubled time' can be a bit more coherent.

    Additionally, the use of random capital letters mid-sentence may disrupt the reading experience for some. If these have a specific purpose or encode a hidden message, you might want to provide a hint for the reader.

    Keep experimenting with texture and tones in your poetry. The more versatile you are, the more engaged and captivated your audience would be. Please continue to share your beautiful imagination with the world.
     
    LikeReply9 months ago

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"In the Mirror" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/165047/in-the-mirror>.

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