Mud Face

mud face
not because I'm black

i tripped and fell face first
in a mud puddle
the reflection in the dark water was not mine
i turned myself over
it was me
i wiped off my face
it was not there
i cried into my hands
it felt familiar

i ran to look in the mirror
my face was behind my reflection
looking at the back of my head
i turned quickly to catch a glimpse

i saw myself
walking out the back side of the mirror
i went back to the mud puddle
there i was face down in my own reflection

my face still in my hands
still crying
still familiar
the reflection
still in dark water
it was still not mine

i stood over the mud puddle
reached up and turned myself over again
walked away
leaving behind
the mud
my face in my hands
my reflection in the mirror behind my head
catching a glimpse of me
face down in the mud puddle


jrg 01/9/06
Copyright © 2009 by Jeff R. Ghee