The Mirror Poem by Mary Spain

Within the theatre foyer, on the wall,
There hung a gilt-edged mirror. It had been
An actor's gift and underneath, in small
Neat lettering, the words were clearly seen:
'This glass is only able to reflect
The true and beautiful'. Attention caught,
We smiled; though in our eyes I could detect
A flicker of relief as each one sought,
And found, his mirrored face. Yet once we knew,
When seeing life through cloudless, infant eyes,
That all of us are beautiful and true.
Now, in a looking-glass, we recognise
Forgotten truths returning from afar
And, briefly, see ourselves for what we are.