broken mirrors

it's seven years
of bad luck, they say
to crack a mirror.
even when it lies.

you take one look
and look away.
you plant your feet firmly in the ground
and look up for a second look.
and it takes your breath away.
you gaze and marvel
wondering who this person is,
and who this person was.
you turn slightly to your left
because it's your photo angle,
without knowing that
things look different from the other side.

you look again and suddenly
you don't like it anymore.
it is cruel and heartless
and piercing where it hurts most.

you try and hide
but you cannot.
you try and forget
but how can you forget?

how will we ever forget?

you look one last time, and it's broken.
the cracks glisten and mock
and dare you to come closer.

who says what is broken
is broken forever?
the time shall come
when the mirror is whole again.

as for me,
i now believe
that the sum
of my parts
is greater than the whole.