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Vanity

 No, the mirror does not liein what it shows of you.Your face today will fillthe eyes that look upon yours,but ask for nothing. Nor nothing in return,but one faint smilethat enters once in every heartwhere it remains for ever… Yes, even mine. But soon the dance must endand you must be as one of us,unnoticed by the passing eyes.Then hold the mirror up again,and try the stepsthat once could tease us all…Again the mirror will not lie,and when its truth tormentsyour footsteps on life’s darkened stage;draws out the dying momentsin a breathless and impassioned dance,pray that your dreams live outvague memory of hurtful wordswhich dared speak out of thingshalf-buried by hypnotic trance. Then, wait the timid hush that fallsupon the echoes of applause,and remember it was only I,not time, saw fit to strip awaythe beauty from your flashing eyes,beyond false subtlety and grace,behind the curtain of your face. 
— professor, Dec 05, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: China/Sichuan/Chengdu, CHN

Favorite Poets: Yeats, Elliot, Auden, Keats, Shelley, Byron

More from this author

Critiques

Seren

Seren

16 years 6 months ago

Bravo Big Bruv … brillaint

Bravo Big Bruv ... brillaint write straight to spotlight I predict ;) dare I ? LOL yep :) love and hugs Jayne x x
professor

professor

16 years 6 months ago

Thankyou JayC

I guess the subject matter may seem a little strange for me at the moment but in truth it was written for an exceptionally beautiful and vain friend many, many years ago. Glad you like it though. Love and hugs Keith
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 6 months ago

Ditto my dear Prof. And you

Ditto my dear Prof. And you don't need my stars to prove it. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. ~A "...when it agrees with reason and it will benefit one and all, then accept it and live by it." ~ Buddha
professor

professor

16 years 6 months ago

No Anna dear,

you and I both dont need the stars, just the Universe lol. As for absence and hearts, well that is another eternal story. Keith
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 6 months ago

Lol. You know my vanity all

Lol. You know my vanity all too well. (Stars, stories and hearts, oh my!) ~A "...when it agrees with reason and it will benefit one and all, then accept it and live by it." ~ Buddha
L

Lonnie

16 years 6 months ago

Astoundingly outstanding!

This poem encompasses all that is best of Poetry! Brilliant imagery, impressive language use, and eloquent thought! Bravo sir!
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 6 months ago

Just a small irony here…

Just a small irony here... the poem is called *Vanity* and Keith writes: *I am flattered*. Thanks for the smile this morning. ~A "...when it agrees with reason and it will benefit one and all, then accept it and live by it." ~ Buddha
professor

professor

16 years 6 months ago

Thanks Vicki

I hope it does help to show what I have been trying to tell you although each of us develops our own unique style of course. Keith
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

16 years 6 months ago

had to have a look here & love what I have found

It's way past curfew for me, but I had to have a look here & love what I have found, I will be back to comment with more worthwhile verbiage, but I am so pleased to see you in Spotlight. Cheers Anni~ "When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace". H.H. the Dalai Lama
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

16 years 6 months ago

I did enjoy a second & third read

Dearest Prof, I think it's fare to call 3am past curfew for a busy lass (seems like the season gets more & mre crowded with must attend "do's" every year, serves me right for being involved in too many things, I can't scive out! Oh no, I can't go back & select pieces from your poem... I did enjoy it a second & third read, though it is a guess exactly your inspiration, I think many of us can relate to much of this & it is soothing in a way to know we are not alone, just the last 6 months I have noticed a difference in the way different genders & age groups relate to me, mostly I find it quite a comfort, but there is a tiny element of wondering how that happened so suddenly, my youth must be slipping! (Though I still manage to be playful (maybe too much!) so I am not perturbed. I love that you put this here, a great subject to consider & maybe come to terms with with a little intimacy thrown in as a sweet spice, as always smooth & rounded, your poems, melty chocolate, maybe even white chocky (my fave!), yes I admit to a sweet tooth! Be gorgeous! Cheers Anni~ "When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace". H.H. the Dalai Lama
professor

professor

16 years 4 months ago

Sorry not to reply to this before Anni

White chocky huh...that is sweet lol. As for getting older...well that feeling you are not considered young anymore comes all too soon....especially when you have a son who deliberately calls me "Old man". The secret is staying young at heart of course and not worrying too much when the ice cream is smeared all over your face lol. Glad you enjoyed the poem and am working on the being gorgeous thing lol. Be wicked Keith
loved

loved

16 years 5 months ago

U R 2 GOD 4 ME

I AM NO POET A SCIENTIST SEARCHING THE SCORCHING HUMAN MIND OF ALL ITS MAGNIFICENCE YOU ARE A NEURO SURGEON BY PROFESSION AND I BY EXPERIENCE I LIVE TODAY BY MY OWN VOLITION THOUGH A NUEORO SURGEON GAVE ME AWAY SOME TEN YEARS DOWN GONE BY I CAN'T SAY WHY FOR PERHAPS I HAD TO COME ACROSS YOU BY ITS BEEN A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO POEM WRITE I AM NO POET THATS RIGHT BUT FOR TRIOND I HAVE WRITTEN 1900 POEMS NON CONVENTIONAL THOUGH THIS YEAR ALONE
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

16 years 5 months ago

Well, Happy 1900 then

Well, Happy 1900 then dearest smoothy, may there be millions more where they came from. Have a wonderful 2010 Brian xxx Cheers, write, live & love well Anni~ "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." ~William Shakespeare, Hamlet.
Candlewitch

Candlewitch

16 years 4 months ago

Dearest Keith

Then, wait the timid hush that falls upon the echoes of applause, and remember it was only I, not time, saw fit to strip away the beauty from your flashing eyes, beyond false subtlety and grace, behind the curtain of your face. These lines which sum up your poem so eloquently, are to me the heart's blood of this piece. It gives me chills reading it. Love, Cat
professor

professor

16 years 4 months ago

Dearest Cat

...oh I do love it when I make you shiver lol. Love Keith