The gals at Candied Ginger and I share a fondness for Louise Gluck, and I can't think why she hasn't provided one of my Thursday poems before. This is easily my favorite of hers.
The Mirror
Watching you in the mirror I wonder
what it is like to be so beautiful
and why you do not love
but cut yourself, shaving
like a blind man. I think you let me stare
so you can turn against yourself
with greater violence,
needing to show me how you scrape the flesh away
scornfully and without hesitation
until I see you correctly,
as a man bleeding, not
the reflection I desire.
We know darned well that men frequently see only the desired reflection when they gaze at women; Gluck makes clear that women are prone to the same misperception and distortion. That need to be seen "correctly" is a powerful one indeed! Lots of good stuff to reflect on around image, relationship, sexuality -- and woundedness.
On a more practical note, i wonder why men do not do their shaving in the shower like women. The effect of the steam and water would prevent more mishaps.
Posted by: annika | January 13, 2005 at 10:39 AM
Amen, sister -- I'm with you. On the other hand, some men like to look at themselves while shaving, and those shower mirrors are never quite the same...
Posted by: Hugo Schwyzer | January 13, 2005 at 10:53 AM
On "Queer Eye" they are always bemoaning that men don't do this. I think some guys like the slight roughness on their chin from a hasty and badly done shave. Makes 'em feel manly. But they are harder to kiss that way.
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Posted by: Term Papers | April 15, 2010 at 11:35 PM
Very good one, I love when a moment of inspiration arrives and you write a poem.
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