This summer I am taking part in the Fox Valley Writing Project’s Invitational Summer Institute. It’s a great opportunity for me, and I am super excited to be a part of it.
Last Saturday, during the orientation, one of the instructors shared the book The Best Part of Me, which is a wonderful book about body image, self esteem and diversity. In the book, children responded to the question, “What is the best part of you?” Some of their responses made me laugh heartily. Some brought tears to my eyes. All responses made me think deeply.
And the funny, ironic thing is, that last week, I shared the poem “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams with my 6th grade ELA classes. We used it to create our own “So much depends upon…” poems. Since that time I had been tossing around an idea in my head. Saturday’s class provided the perfect opporunity to put it all together.
So here it is…
“The Image in the Mirror”
Inspired by “The Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams
So much
depends upon the image
reflected
in the mirror.
When compared to
a supermodel,
an actress,
an athlete…
the reflection
is a source of disappointment,
a source of shame,
a source of pain.
The clavicle,
the ribs,
the ilium…
not prominent enough.
The cheeks,
the breasts,
the buttocks…
too full.
The abdomen,
the biceps,
the quadriceps…
too soft.
Too
much
time
wasted
judging the image
reflected
in the mirror.
Why does it matter?
Why is it so important,
when the image
of others
matters
not
one
bit?
It’s their thoughts,
their dreams,
their successes,
their fears,
their failures…
that’s what matters.
That’s
who
they really are.
Am I afraid
to share
who I am with others?
Is that why
my self-worth
is so intertwined
with the image
reflected in the mirror?
Perhaps,
it’s not the image in the mirror that
so much depends
upon…
but rather
the self acceptance
of the person
looking in the mirror.
Karen Hovie
2015
