Over the years I have stared
at myself
in the mirror, seen
thousands of reflections
of four-eyed me full
of sidelong glances and sly misdirection
looked into
a smoky glass dim
lit by sconces
I kissed the air
put on lipstick
adjusted my glasses
ready for the cruel world
I looked in a mirror today
ten times maybe more
sometimes I saw an old lady with frizzy
white hair and specs
sometimes I saw me
a thousand times I saw me.