Picture is of me (on the left) and my friend Dorene when we had dinner a month ago.
Poem: "I.D. Photo" by Rachel Hadas, from The River of Forgetfulness. © David Robert Books, 2006. Reprinted with permission. (The Writer's Alamanac)
I.D. Photo
Since I can feel my radiant nature shine
Out of my face as unmistakably
As sunlight, it comes as a shock to see
The features that apparently are mine.
Mirrors are not a lot of fun to pass,
And snapshots are much worse. Take the I.D.
Picture taken only yesterday
(Take it-I don't want it): sallow face
Pear-shaped from smiling-lumpy anyway,
Droopy, squinty. General discouragement.
I'd blame the painter, if this were in paint,
But can't avoid acknowledging it's me,
No likeness by an artist I could blame
For being bad at matching in with out.
What I see, alas, is what I get.
Victim and culprit are myself and time—
Having seen which, it's time to turn aside;
Look out from, not in at, an aging face
That happens to be mine. No more disgrace
Lies in having lived then having died.
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Ya look great..younger even. :-)
ReplyDeleteSlightly different, but familiar features to me! hehehe
ReplyDeleteCor don't let FOC know you're telling lies.
ReplyDeleteSharon, I am what I am.
Cheryl - you do look great, especially after all you are currently going through. I finally got connected to you today after a few confusing attempts at it the past week. I love this blog - the poem speaks so much to how I feel when I see many pictures of myself. I really take bad photos - even Mark tells me it's true. So, I can certainly relate to the poem.
ReplyDeleteKristin, my passport photo makes me look like a terrorist. I was afraid they wouldn't let me back in the country.
ReplyDeleteenjoyed your poem. How come FOC can't smile like you do?
ReplyDeleteI don't know the man Iggy so I can't answer that question. Perhaps he doesn't have a nice friend like Dorene?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed that poem, it's the truth I never look how I picture myself looking! You on the other hand are beautifully young looking. You called me young once, but you look the same age as I am!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nym that's very sweet.
ReplyDelete