“Reading Le Figaro”
(after the painting by Mary Cassatt)

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
I’ll read news of scandal, brawl,
storm, and death, but I will not
turn to look at you.  I’ve got
more important things to see
than well-coiffed and ruffly me.
I’m more curious than vain,
and of course you can’t explain
politics, finance, or war,
so you’re easy to ignore.
I sit in a comfy chair,
but I think, inquire, and care.
You reflect, without reflecting
on a thing.  I’m not objecting—
you look fine, you’re nicely framed;
if you’re dull, you can’t be blamed.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
you’re irrelevant, that’s all.

Jean L. Kreiling