Mirror Work

At one of his concerts, Leonard Cohen told the audience never to look in one of those hotel bathroom mirrors, you know the ones with two sides, normal and magnified? He did that before coming and almost missed the show. You can guess which side he choose. 

I want to wear my grandmothers clothes, see her face at 80 something, and practice mirror work. Read the lines on her skin and hear their secrets. Say things to her reflection she would never say. 

“There IS use in crying over spilled milk” 

Crying is not the hurt. It’s the healing. 

“DON’T just get on with it” 

Take your time. When you’re ready, get on with it. 

“You CAN’T have too many chocolate chip cookies”

For this one I’ll slowly eat a plate of about six chocolate chip cookies, her recipe, while looking at my reflection. There will be a tall glass of milk that I’ll take a few gulps of. 

I’ll start to cry at about cookie number 4, but I’ll keep watching myself. I’m waiting for the shadow to appear. 

I’ll know it’s there when I can’t stand it anymore. When I lose the starring contest. When my tears melt her face back into mine. 

That’s when I’ll pour the rest of the milk over my head, and cry and laugh, and kiss the glass.