<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Mirror In February<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="">The day dawns, with scent of must and rain,</div><div class="">Of opened soil, dark trees, dry bedroom air.</div><div class="">Under the fading lamp, half dressed - my brain</div><div class="">Idling on some compulsive fantasy -</div><div class="">I towel my shaven jaw and stop, and stare,</div><div class="">Riveted by a dark exhausted eye,</div><div class="">A dry downturning mouth.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">It seems again that it is time to learn,</div><div class="">In this untiring, crumbling place of growth</div><div class="">To which, for the time being, I return.</div><div class="">Now plainly in the mirror of my soul</div><div class="">I read that I have looked my last on youth</div><div class="">And little more; for they are not made whole</div><div class="">That reach the age of Christ.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Below my window the wakening trees,</div><div class="">Hacked clean for better bearing, stand defaced</div><div class="">Suffering their brute necessities;</div><div class="">And how should the flesh not quail, that span for span</div><div class="">Is mutilated more? In slow distaste</div><div class="">I fold my towel with what grace I can,</div><div class="">Not young, and not renewable, but man.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Thomas Kinsella</div></div><div class=""><span style="font-size: 20px;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">May 4, 1928-December 26, 2021)</span></span></div></div></body></html>