15 for 15 Contest --- Closed

"Facing My Face" 

The wavering image in the mirror
sends back a familiar smile
with wrinkles dancing to the beat
of drumming years, for the wind
has taken away the rosiness
to leave unanswered questions
and a few pains.

But the eyes see…enough,
after cataract surgery, as they look
like dark weapons of stare,
though they impale themselves
when they retreat beneath the eyelids
and the eyebrows’ arches.

Left side: two teeth missing,
one up one down,
sty on the eyelid, a stale cheek,
on which ghosts of kisses remain from
loved ones long since gone.

Right side: perkier than the left,
where camera once captured
some beauty of flesh, which time
did bear away like anything mortal,

The nose: a straight, small bridge
under which the troll of mouth
in a small bundle resides.

The forehead: intense, craftily lined;
there, traveling specters of thought
uneasily halt in silence.

This face glares back like graffiti
written in a language,
private and personal,
holding back its truths
even from me.