Vanity

by retrodisco666

Published August 24, 2010

In poem

It's been three years
since you last checked your reflection.
You've worked so hard to get here,
you never have time for yourself.
So now you sit before the vanity and
don't recognise the face before you.

Time has taken it's
rage out upon you,
and you have been left broken.
You run your fingers across the
crack in the mirror and you remember him.
He who made you feel special,
perfect. Who you left behind to indulge
in your goals. He how left you,
because you did not care enough.

Your fingers find their way
to a old dragonfly hair slide.
Your fingers trace their wings
and pull away. You remember you mother,
who laid dying in a hospital and
you didn't visit her, you were busy.

You now catch your full reflection.
It's hazed behind the dust of years
and you try to brush it away
but it has sat to long.
A stranger stares back at you,
everything seems to have changed.


You're trying to claw back.
The memories, the person you used to be.
But we every attempt the phone
rings and you have to go, but you
promise yourself that you will do
this again sometime, but you never do.

So take hold of the hairgrip.
Trace the cracks, go back to where
it all went wrong, and try to fix it.
Fix what has been broken for so long.
Sit before your vanity and think about your
future. Three years from now,
will you recognise your face?

Comments & reviews · 5
Random avatar
Iamnotperfect
Review
Iamnotperfect wrote a review Review · Aug 26, 2010

Hi I like this poem especially because there is some points where I can relate to. It looks very genuine to me
and as someone might have already said I thought it was about being vain at first so I am curious to know why you gave it "Vanity" as a title. Was it because it just describes the character of the poem spending so much time on her work that its like she prioritizes herself before anyone. I think there is a few parts that you could improve but the poem has a good flow.

Overall good work keep it up !

User avatar
Button
Review
Button wrote a review Review · Aug 25, 2010

This was an interesting piece.. I looked at the title, and had automatically assumed this was going to be about someone who was vain. Entirely opposite, haha. The first line made that quite clear, but tenacious little me kept on looking for it throughout the poem.

Now.. onto the actual review. :)
I thought this was good.. this made me think.. it has some strong points, with parts that people can definitely relate to, even if they don't actually want to. This has a depth to it I was not entirely expecting. Nice job on that.
However.. a few things. I think that you could have used a bit more imagery to convey the emotion and struggle the character is having upon looking at herself, actually looking at herself. This is supposed to be a moment of terrible revelation it seems.. and it could be dramaticized. It's just what we do as writers. :) Imagery makes the emotion more tangible.. it makes it a bit more rounded and a bit easier to relate to. There's also that (I'm assuming) line with a typo, that's been pointed out already. I would definitely take care of that.

Like I said.. a pretty good write. I think that perhaps the point could have hit a bit harder with some more emotion in it, but as it is, it's quite good. Nice job. c:

Coral

User avatar
simplycomplex
Review
simplycomplex wrote a review Review · Aug 25, 2010

Honestly, I really like this poem and it was well written.

Time has taken its
rage out upon you,
and you have been left broken.

"It's" is only the contraption "it is". "Its" is a possessive pronoun. Just a tip.

Your fingers find their way
to an old dragonfly hair slide.
Your fingers trace their wings

I think saying "your fingers" twice doesn't flow as smooth, but that's just my opinion, you don't have to change it.

and you try to brush it away
but it has sat too long.

Sorry for pointing out every little thing. I'm big on grammar. :)

But with every attempt the phone
rings and you have to go, but you
promise yourself that you will do
this again sometime, but you never do.

So take hold of the hairgrip.
Trace the cracks, go back to where
it all went wrong, and try to fix it.
Fix what has been broken for so long.
Sit before your vanity and think about your
future. Three years from now,
will you recognise your face?

I love the ending. It seems in line with the poem and fits right in and everything.
Great work!

User avatar
Shearwater
Review
Shearwater wrote a review Review · Aug 24, 2010

Hi there!

Okay, I don't normally review poems, so I'm sorry if this review isn't helpful. >.<
I have to say, I thought your poem was very deep and full of emotion.
One tiny nitpick:

But we every attempt the phone

I didn't get this line.

Overall, this poem was nice and I liked the flow. I wasn't very sure about the mothers death part, I know you were saying she was too busy, but I'm not sure why.
Anyways, I loved the poem.
Cheers,

~Pink

User avatar
KitxKat
Comment
KitxKat commented Comment · Aug 24, 2010

That was strong and emotion-filled.
It makes think, and your flow was strong.
I liked it
~Kit



The human heart has hidden treasures, in secret kept, in silence sealed...
— Charlotte Bronte