4. Happy

[gunwithoutmusic]

"Photographic Evidence"

I caught a glimpse of myself
In a photo on the wall;
It was from just last year
At around Christmas-time.

My husband and I
Had our arms around
Each other’s shoulders,
And we were smiling.

I looked old.

I remember that day vividly.
I remember dressing nicely
And brushing my hair,
Shaving my face to look my best.

I remember looking at myself
In the mirror and thinking,
‘I look nice today.
These pictures will be great.’

But I look at the photo,
And I don’t think,
‘I look good. I look happy.’

I look at the photo,
And I think,
‘I look old. I look fat.’

When I catch myself
In the mirror these days,
My eyes play tricks
And convince me that

I am looking at
A 20-year-old man,
Without a receding hairline
With a speckling of gray
Just at the temples,
Without the extra pounds
That I’ve put on
Over the years.

When I catch myself
In the mirror these days,
I look happy.

When I catch myself
In a photograph,
I look real.

Comments

[adoptedwriter]

Time catches up no matter how hard we try. All we can do is keep at it.

[gunwithoutmusic]

I'm at that age where acceptance is hard lol - I still FEEL like a twenty-something in my mind, even if my knees and back like to remind me that I'm pushing 40.

[jake67jake]

OH, I like this. Too true that our brains think we are still young and photos show just how untrue that is ;).

"When I catch myself in a photograph, I look real." I think that is very profound.

Nice job!

[gunwithoutmusic]

It's very disconcerting! Like, I know that's me, but that's not what I look like! But then other people look at it and they go, "Wow, that's a great picture of you." So I guess that is what I look like lol

[erulissedances]

Without doubt there are reasons why Native Americans didn't like photographs taken of themselves. I've always been convinced that the camera does NOT love me. I suspect it's because it's a moment in time, but not personality. Personality cannot be captured by a camera. I agree with you - the camera is NOT a kind mistress.

- Erulisse (one L)

[gunwithoutmusic]

Usually if I'm the one taking a picture (so, selfies) I am fairly pleased with how I look in it. When someone else takes the picture, I am invariably not happy with how I look in it. Although, I guess when it comes to selfies, I can take a lot of them and have control over which ones I actually show other people, which probably has a lot to do with it.

That's a good point about personality - photographs are very flat and just a specific instant in time; it's very hard to capture the essence of what makes you you in a still shot like that. :)

[swirlsofpurple]

This is such a poignant poem, love it

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you so much :)