Oval Reflections

Sue Castle           

I am the oval mirror

that looks down the stairwell

and I stare well right at the handle

that moves without touching

and I am the touching that handles my life

I am the curtain that lets in the small light

and I am the breeze that enters as well

and I am the oval that shapes the mirror

and I am the reflection as well.

and I am the small light, the small light, the small light

and I am the smallness that plays with delight.

I am the door that I didn’t dare mention

for fear of the lying beyond

and I am the closed door, the closed door, the closed door

and I am the eyes cast to the floor.

I am the slithery, scuttling floorboard

and I am the nail in it too

and I am the cruel saw, the cruel saw, the cruel saw

that cuts the hole in the floor.

I can escape down the gap that I’m making

through the oval mirror that hangs in the hallway;

and I can leave at will

because I am the closed door, the cruel saw, the cruel saw,

the small light, the small light, the small light

that plays with delight

and I might return one day.

©2006 Sue Castle.  Reproduced with permission of the author.  This poem was a highly commended entry in the City of Derby Short Story and Poetry Competition 2006