Stranger in the Mirror

I wore my beard proudly

When I was in the Navy

So many years ago

In my Navy Dress Blues.

‘Tis a shock to look and see

A new reflection,

A derailed deflection,

A possible rejection,

Of the me I saw

Just moments ago,

Staring into the mirror

At a face so familiar

Before the arrival,

To end the survival,

To kill an abundance of curls and swirls,

To massacre ten years of grooming,

By using a blade for brooming

Away the accustomed, habituated,

Acclimated, well adjusted,

Ordinary of my face.

To whack away,

Shave away,

Banish ten years of bearded

Facial familiarity.

‘Tis a shock to look and see

A stranger staring back at me

In the mirror wondering

How could it be

That I don’t recognize the being

Reflecting the image before me?

Who is it that wonders,

Ponders, and conjures

Questions, interrogations,

Examinations and asks,

Who am I

Now, today?

Who is different from yesterday,

And just a few moments ago?

Isn’t that how life is anyway

We throw away

The we we were

Each and every night

Only to recreate, replicate

A clone

Who won’t make us feel alone

Like we know all too well

We have always been.

Or have we

Just been

Searching for that other?

Returning to our mothers

Or our fathers

Or our former shipmates

Who won’t make us wonder

If we really are all alone.