Mirrors

I tell her I believe in night
While she wears a simple necklace, hanging
from her neck that shines like the
crescent moon who steals light from the sun or
the pearls she wears on her finger and she
remembers bathing in the sunlight,
so she tells me she believes in day.

I tell her I believe in the future
and she remains impassive and serious
like a stone, with no thought or feeling,
carvings of her history long worn out and forgotten
like the ancient civilizations who were once so strong and bold
but they hide in shame with only ruins of their power
to show for her memories
though she knows they will be there to haunt her,
so she tells me she believes in the present.

I stand there looking
into the mirror as she
lifts her hand and reaches towards me
but her hand never makes contact
and I stand there
looking at myself
looking at her.