Mirrors And Lighting

A story of self awareness

People in my life have been mirrors;
In them I've seen reflections of myself.
Smiles and laughter,
Anger and tears
Ricochet off the mirrors' edge.
People in my life have been the lighting,
Soft and natural,
Harsh and florescent.
The mirror shows my imperfections,
The areas where I am hopelessly flawed
But the lighting shows the trueness.
Under the florescence I am naked,
Brutally cold and ugly
While the gentleness of the natural
Softens my flaws,
Making them just barely visible.
And until I step away from the florescence
Turn off the coldness of its beams
I will never be free
To shine in the natural.