Mirror Image

                                                                                       by Phillip Peters

                                                                             The young look into the mirror and
                                                                                         see what they seem to be.
                                                                                     With age you slowly become
                                                                                 what is in your medicine cabinet,
                                                                                         the drugs and preparations,
                                                                                        the pills and ointments that
                                                                                               save you from yourself,
                                                                                         allow the excess expected
                                                                                        and the indulgences sought
                                                                              to continue for as long as possible.
                                                                                  I have become Lipitor, Serevent,
                                                                                                 aspirin and Gaviscon.
                                                                                  You might be an antidepressant,
                                                                               another antacid and preparation H,
                                                              maybe something for your high blood pressure
                                                                                     and a pill for your triglycerides.
                                                                          It’s not the image, but what’s behind it.