I smile because after thirty something years together
in the bathroom mirror
he still sees that twenty-eight year old young man
I married.
but his twenty-six year old bride
does not gaze back at me
I see
each silver hair
reflect from the mirrored surface
each pound and line
stark realities of time
sometimes I’m startled
not recognizing the image
as Self
but another Woman
(sometimes mother
and now
even grandmother)
She
stares back at me
from the bathroom mirror
And I smile
thecourseofourseasons
Observations from the Garden
thecourseofourseasons 
I’m glad you smiled. It’s a feat.
Jim
I can so relate to that. This afternoon my husband told me how I pretty I was. Let’s see, I’d been doing yard work, then laundry and working around the house. I was hot, sticky and crabby and told him I didn’t agree with him. He was quite the sweetie and informed me that I was pretty no matter how I looked. But I agree – what looks back at me in the mirror is not what he sees. Which is good, but I have to work harder at accepting and remembering that.
Nancy
I like the sense of daydreaming while looking at the mirror. Past and present unite. Thankfully ending with a smile.
Wonderful that you smile and so true the difference in our visions.
I’m glad she smiles.
There is a difference in what one sees in the mirror, true ~ I think we women are more conscious of the signs of aging than men ~ I think its sweet that he still sees and calls you his bride, smiles ~
I know you are right about that difference, Grace – and he is a sweetheart!
Thanks so much – K
And I do love that ending. I think all of our wrinkles, scars, gray hairs…whatever, are like battle scars–well earned and the kind of beauty that endures. I have to tell myself that or…
Thank you, Victoria – I do think every gray hair is well earned and the lines on my face are more from laughter and smiles then frowns and tears – figure I am ahead of the game – smiles – K
There’s nothing wrong with honest appraisal…as long as it’s met with acceptance, and not used to beat ourselves up.
Thankfully, I think I grew out of that beating myself up stage – now acceptance and forgiveness are the path I choose – thanks for dropping by – i appreciate it – K
Mirror, mirror, who is the fairest poet of them all? Lovely, honest, audacious peek into that silvered surface. Mostly in mine I really only still recognize the boy’s eyes; the reflection is becoming both my grandfather, and the phantom father I never knew.
What an incredibly kind thing to say – Thank you, Glenn. K
I understand exactly what you are saying. I see a stranger in the mirror as well. Really hard to recognize that person looking back as me……. I do like the ‘smile’ at the end of your poem. Putting a positive on the situation!
Thanks, Mary, you know, I’m not sure when it happened – seems just in the past few years. And we might as well be positive – it’s better than the alternative – smiles! K
As women I definitely agree that we see more signs of aging on our own bodies than anyone else does… and it’s wonderful to be married to someone who still views us as young.
Thank you, Laurie. -and he is a good one -still introduces me as ‘his bride’ : ) K
Oh those bathroom mirrors.. maybe they should be banned.. I never look in it .. but a smile is good… 🙂 and we men always think we are unchanged… we are just less honest.
Thanks, Bjorn – K
ah it’s good to smile…bathroom mirrors can be mean fellows at times but love makes us see the other with much different eyes and the things that we can only see with our heart are much more important…
Thanks, Claudia – that is very sweet to say. K
smiles at her surely…cause she’s still beautiful..and if you look at her through the eyes of those kids you will surely see it…smiles…very honest write…is true…
You are a kind man – smiles – and he still sees that 26 yr old girl – even if I do not!
Have a great weekend, Brian
K