The heat is rising in the Midwest, and the pavement is awash in mirage after mirage. I noticed the first summer reflections last week on the road to Fort Smith, the pools of water evaporating just before my reaching them. There they were; then, there they weren’t. Mirages and high-school girlfriends — they share certain properties.
I considered the mirage, its definition and etymology. A mirage, says Merriam-Webster, is an “optical illusion of water in sandy deserts, ” and comes from the French word “to be reflected, ” as if in a mirror. Mirrors and mirages are reflective opposites, though. One reflects that which is. The other reflects that which is not.
Undoubtedly, there are those who mistake mirages for mirrors and vice versa. Consider, for instance, the cowboy who follows the reflection of water deeper into the desert, the one who mistakes illusion for true reflection. Consider, on the other hand, the one who sees an ever-flawed mirror image, the one who imposes mirage upon true reflection. Deception, see, is not merely found in a mirage’s promise. Perception can impose deceit over reflection, too.
So let’s consider them — mirage versus mirror.
Do you know the difference?
Poetry Prompt: We’ve been writing poetry prompts around the theme “Mirror, Mirror, ” this month, and your pieces have been great. This week, though, we’d like to pen poems about different sorts of reflections — mirages. Consider a mirage you’ve followed. Use the mirage as a metaphor, a prop, or a analogy. Discuss reflections — both false and true. As always, we’ll award extra points for creativity (and maybe a bonus point or two for style). Who’s first?
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Tweetspeak’s Mirror, Mirror Poetry Prompt:
This month we’re considering the theme “Mirror, Mirror, “ and we’ll be composing poems around the subject. How do you participate in this month’s poetry prompt?
1. Consider a mirror, whether a makeup mirror, a hand held mirror, or your rear-view mirror. Listen to our monthly prompt-themed playlist. What images, emotions, metaphors, or allegories do they conjure?
2. Compose your own poem around the theme.
3. Tweet your poems to us. Add a #TSMirror hashtag so we can find it and maybe share it with the world.
4. If you aren’t a Twitter user, or if you’d rather, leave your poem here in the comment box.
5. At the end of the month, we’ll choose a poem to feature in one of our upcoming Weekly Top 10 Poetic Picks.
Last week produced several great “Mirror, Mirror” poems. Maureen Doallas composed a found poem entitled “Infinite, ” using words from my post “Realities Reflected.” It reads,
We stretched our moment
in that Ozark sun, a mirror
that fluorescent-lit our origin
in light. Reality perhaps was
finite, a time and space
of potential we reflected, each
to the other. But consider:
of hundreds and thousands
of possibilities the forever
that was just you
and I.
I love a good Ozark poem, Maureen. Thanks!
Richard Maxson brought this poetic reflection:
There is no fear, his brow is smooth,
but it is his face
and in its shadow parts, fierceness
hides, a beast from a old dream.
The eyes again: they are kind
and deep with joy and tears.
Before, there was no memory of quiet woods,
the beautiful energy of waves
breaking themselves over rocks into pools,
a larger love learned by loving.
Thanks for sharing your poem with us, Richard.
Thank you for the rest of you who participated last week. It is a privilege to see your work take shape on the screen. Now, let’s get to writing some mirage poetry. Who’s first?
Photo by 55Laney69, Creative Commons via Flickr. Post by Seth Haines.
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Buy a year of Every Day Poems, just $5.99 — Read a poem a day, become a better poet. In June we’re exploring the poetry theme Mirror, Mirror.
Seth Haines says
I took my own prompt today and worked out a mirage poem based upon “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere.”
The Rhyme of the Ancient Cowboy.
Step by step, step by step,
And naught but sand and dirt;
As hopeless as horseless man
within a horseless desert.
Mirage, mirages, everywhere,
And all all my hopes do shrink;
Mirage, mirages, everywhere,
And not a drop to drink.
davis says
nay, no neighing ship
to carry him
Maureen Doallas says
Thank you for the shout-out, Seth.
Perhaps that cowboy’s had one too many. Fun poem!
davis says
my poem for this week:
http://nancemarie.blogspot.com/2013/06/linger.html
on richard’s poem, i really like the line
“a larger love learned by loving”
Richard Maxson says
You’ve given this the power it deserves by understating it. Loved it!
Donna says
linger at a distance…
oh I love the way you said that
nance says
Thanks, Donna.
ElenaLee says
Reflections on failure–
acne scars immortalized
in memory’s florescent light–
pock a dot-to-dot warning:
“Do Not Proceed.”
But might one forward step
fall through sweet air
to solid earth and show,
finally, the devil
trying to instigate
a drowning in a mirage?
Richard Maxson says
A powerful poem of courage. I like “memory’s florescent light–/pock a dot-to-dot warning:”
We share the same idea of memory as mirage.
nance says
memory’s florescent light.
i love that.
Donna says
the devil does instigate doesn’t he…? what a great line. i can feel it…
Richard Maxson says
Is not our memory one of the biggest mirages of all?
*****
Fifty Minutes
You tell me to start with a memory,
knowing memory must lie for its life.
What remains of time is the minute hand,
raised high, ready for the hour to strike.
He comes to visit in dreams with evenings,
a shadow, a black bird, a locust tree.
You ask me to say how it makes me feel—
look at my fingers holding each other;
look at my face, trying to make a sound,
to explain the blackbird fading away,
to explain how he still seems to call me,
like the soft H we think we hear from canyons
Donna says
memory must lie for its life!?
exactly.
makes me wonder why i try so hard to chase my own? well said!
nance says
i will be sure to not look too closly for certain memory or the soft h.
Laurie Flanigan says
This is wonderful, Richard.
Donna says
I combined #TSMirror with Wordcandy Wednesday and here is the result, also found on http://thebrightersideblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/wordcandy-wednesday-love-lines.html
Gallant knight
wields his magic pen
pulled from the heart of
the deep ruby ore
and with love lines
cast on smoothest glass
bravely frees the dragon
from its persistent mirage
shattering to brittle bits
the prison walls
as ancient as the mirror
hidden in grandmother’s attic
leaving
two words
inscribed upon
her looking glass-
so pretty.
nance says
i like it.
Glynn says
I went into the desert, where all things are reflected. http://faithfictionfriends.blogspot.com/2013/06/el-mirage.html
nance says
i loved this one…
Laurie Flanigan says
Mirage
My porthole image is lost
accosted by a wash of
filmy breath. I’m gauzed in
its milky-white web
until I tremble … ebbing
in the breeze, and I can see
a peek of what’s beneath.
nance says
i like how the words are woven in sound.
Richard says
I like the alliteration in this. It reminds me a little of Kay Ryan’s poetry.
nance says
sorry, i kept pressing the wrong reply button.
LaDonna Marie says
Beautiful me
I stand here in front of this mirror
truly loving what I see
Loving every flaw and every strength
Thanking God for creating me
In his image
The person standing here
looking back at me is
Strong and courageous
She represents
Beautiful me