In The Mirror Before His Face

In the mirror before his face
But a child and lesser than others
Child though was, he appeared even younger
Friends to share his thoughts he had not another

Slight of size and of not much wisdom
Knowing not how to fit in with the host
Alone in the thoughts of a lonely mind
Little of cheer to his being of which to boast

In the mirror before his face
A sad face it was, in pain, in need
Loss was great upon his mind and soul
Death is bitter to the young, and fears it did feed

The loss was great of those he loved
Ones who had some understanding of him as few
Gladly would he have traded places with them
Those of good heart who suffered without due

In the mirror before his face
Eyes of one lonely beyond his years
Come of age though far from it in looks
His mind was already worn by the jeers

Misfit he was, left behind by those of stature
Maturity of mind even if body not full
He countered with his only tool at his bidding
His mind was as sharp of thought as he was dull

In the mirror before his face
He saw one still young and without grace
Time to take leave, and to go meet the world
To take on life, to make a mark, to find a place

He found one who could abide his self
Who agreed to share his path in life
They traveled what seemed half the world
To be together against challenges as man and wife

In the mirror before his face
He saw once more one lost and failed
Having used once more his only tool, his mind
He seemed appreciated until the need for misfits paled

Cast aside by those who had praised his deeds
Turned away by others that called him friend
He was now but a threat to their places, a challenger
When plans failed, alliance were left to blow in the wind

In the mirror before his face
He saw one broken and without hope
His mind failing, he was in heavy need
One who pledged to help left him alone to cope

She ran from his side, left him alone
Said she could not any longer share a home
He sought help with out her support
With a kind doctor though he found some

In the mirror before his face
He saw one desperate to give it another chance
He set aside all his own will in favor of promises
Chose to take all blame, never take a stance

Doc said if he chose this route he wished him well
But treatment was over; he could see him no more
Still he pick the path he knew was wrong
He tried with all his might though a brutal chore

In the mirror before his face
He saw someone who was going all wrong
Trying the fantasy of becoming a farmer
Working a dual life requiring more than strong

But he loved and cared for his birds one and all
The geese especially were his children and friends
He gave them everything that was in his power
A fantasy that he hope his feeble life would mend

In the mirror before his face
He saw a life that had not a trace of good
Things always fell apart and went wrong
Nothing was turning out as wanted or should

Others destroyed everything he tried to do
They killed more than hope and turned all to a lie
They did not care; in fact made sure it would fail
They killed everything, including his will to try

In the mirror before his face
He saw one broken and without hope
Mind seemed to shatter, he planned his death
He was only alone with his self to cope

The one to whom he long ago had pledged
Until death never to part or to stray
Seem no longer to care if he even existed
Had many times told him to just go away

In the mirror before his face
He saw a man who he knew still had a dream
One who had found someone to share them with
She with eyes and a spirit that in love did gleam

Together they would survive all their pains
Together they would take on a life’s gamble
They would correct all the wrong in their world
They would untangle their minds that were a bramble

In the mirror before his face
The face of one who had all his dreams crushed
He gave everything he had, anything asked
Only to have his whole being turned to dust

He held her hand when she was in distress
Then turned her back when it was his turn
Left his mind more twisted than ever before
A feeble broken man who seems never to learn

In the mirror before his face
He sees once more a soul in complete despair
One who sees no hope for tomorrow, no dreams
Only one that any longer can seldom even care

His dreams and fantasies came to life
They were finally his to have and to hold
And every one of them were taken away
After in faith his every principle he sold

In the mirror before his face
In what he saw he could discern no good
Forsaken by love, by fate, by his soul-mate
Once again with nothing that was as it should

In that mirror he saw nothing not to despised
All he could see was pain and sorrow in those eyes
He saw what everyone else had always seen
The face of the loser within whom all faith dies

In the mirror before his face
He saw a life of disgrace
He saw a mirror he wanted to break
It was all more than one could take
He did not want to see any trace
Of that mirror before his face.