nichepoetryandprose

reflection n. 1: reflecting or being reflected; reflect light, heat, colour or image;

2: reflex action;

3: censure; thing bringing discredit on;

4: reconsideration;

5: mental faculty dealing with products of sensation and perception;

6: idea arising in the mind, mental or verbal comment.

Oxford dictionary, 1950.

In autumn, I seek out rivers and lakes because they reflect the colour of the trees and magnify the effect of autumn fire.

Reflections are tricky.  Sometimes they are so clear, you can turn a picture upside down and be momentarily confused about which way is up.  Reflections are true, but show the inverse of self… the left side is on the right, the right side on the left.  Refections take on the characteristics of the mirroring surface… in a mirror, a flaw in the glass will create a distorted image… in the water this results in wavy or doubled images as the water is disturbed.  

search for the essence of sun

~

1.

~

the river is molten

brimming with sunset

part water part sun imprisoned

by river reeds

            ~         

2.

~

I am empty

                        less the thickness of reflection

~

the hollow

                        in begging hands

the void in the pipe

                        after the note has faded

darkness in the cradle of the moon

~

3.

~

if I had a straw

I could drink this sun

if the light would lift in folds 

I could wrap it around my brain

tie it like a bandana

or I could scoop it into my hands

let it run honey and golden

along my arms

cut it with a knife

keep one half

to show my lover

~                                                                     

I could sink into the river

rise through the sun’s reflection

slip it over my shoulders like raiment

~

4.

~

I could take the sun

in all these ways

weave it through me

like ribbon

~

but that would be only

the image of sun

            not warm

~

© Jane Tims  1990