Tuesday, March 29, 2011

mirror miracle


i dance across the skin of this world
it's a place to begin
it's where all worthy work begins
like learning to see yourself
and then learning to not see yourself
and then not being

i know those times

i know
those times
when i see myself
as others see me

entirely
as others see me

and i know it's not me
as i know me

but no matter
i let the fantasy unfold
because it feels good
to see myself
despite myself

as others see me

despite myself


you mirror miracle
do not reflect my darkness
reflecting light that is not mine ...

excerpted from tu, paz mia... by dulce maria loynaz

18 comments:

Elisabeth said...

I've been reflecting on mirrors a lot lately, Steven, and this rendition adds a shine to my thoughts. Thanks.

oil painting dvds said...

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Ruth said...

I feel these words today as my own, reflected.

steven said...

elisabeth - the mirrors both inside and outside - reflect the perceptions of the perceiver. it's so easy to get lost in them. steven

steven said...

oil painting dvds. thankyou. steven

steven said...

ruth - i'll be reflecting on your words. steven

ellen abbott said...

beautiful sky

Reya Mellicker said...

Oh yeah - learning to see yourself, then learning not to look at yourself so much. Yep.

(nodding)

As above, so below.

Steven I wish you could sit down with Jo and me this week for coffee or wine, or for dancing among the cherry trees. We will lift a glass to you, definitely, as we are both serious fans. xx

Reya Mellicker said...

Serious fans of the mirror that is Steven.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes steven, I always find it faintly disturbing that we never actually see ourselves as we really are - we only ever see the mirror image.

aguja said...

A beautiful post.

I find it interesting that I am who I am, totally, but others can only reflect on their own perception of me. Does that mean that none of us is truly known ... I think that maybe it does, but then I don't mind there being a corner of which only I am aware.

Most thought provoking, Steven

Friko said...

We never understand how others can see somebody who is so different to the way we see ourselves.

steven said...

ellen that sky took place here about two eeeks ago. i was out on yard duty with my students and i looked up - not unusual for me - and there they were. little fingers, feathers even - reaching across the sky. i had a little point and shoot with me and so here it is. steven

steven said...

reya thankyou for your kindness. i know that i will be in washington at some point in my life. or perhaps i should say, i know that your path, jo and mine will cross in the analogue world somewhere and sometime. because it needs to although i'm not entirely sure where that'll happen. steven

steven said...

weaver - i think we know ourselves very well, i think though that we can embrace the way in which others see us as being who we are. steven

steven said...

aguja - we are who we are. no doubt. but we see each other through the perceiving of our perceptions. steven

steven said...

friko that's entirely true within my own experience. steven

Lisa Ursu said...

It's a slippery slope I have found, trying to factor in how others see me, but I also know that what is outside of me is a reflection of me, dark, or not.
This makes me think of the moon too (reflecting light that is not mine).
I LOVE the FEAST for thought here Steven.