In the Mirror
Do not look at yourself always in the same mirror.
Kay Sage
SourceLicence:Public domain (US, unrenewed)
Do not look at yourself always in the same mirror.
Five short lines, and they read like a piece of advice from someone who knows. The speaker isn't talking about glass, really. A mirror gives you one angle, one kind of light, one fixed version of your face, and if it's the only place you ever check yourself, you start to believe that image is the whole truth. The poem gently warns against that habit.
The tone is quiet and almost tender. There's no scolding, just a soft "do not" that sounds like a friend leaning in. The word "always" is the hinge: looking isn't the problem, but looking in the same place every time is. Read this way, "mirror" can stand for anything we use to measure ourselves, such as one person's opinion, one routine, or one habit of thinking about who we are. The poem suggests that other mirrors exist, and that seeing yourself differently might mean stepping somewhere new. It leaves you thoughtful, with a small invitation to look elsewhere.