the old man
looked at the young man
at himself
and smiled

this was not the self-congratulatory grin
of assuredness and aplomb
no panache
no flourish of the pen
or the pencil-thin
mustache

no
his mirror stood before him
prepared for primp or pomp
looking back from youthful power
a playful world in which to romp

and neither did the elder’s mirth
indulge his impulse to mock
old ones not-long-past
in memory
held fast his hateful clock

but no
this smile stood clear
to radiate within and render
all perspectives past performance
reality’s return to sender

and so
did ego inevitably imagine
connections of reflection
bolstered by a gentle genuineness
and good will
of a fashion

thus did fall
that age-old fallacy of faction
when mirrored
this old man was made
and gladly given
satisfaction

Peace/Love/Educate/Activate

m(~_~)m