Poetry Corner: “Said The Mirror” by Piper Montera

If words were wishes,
said the mirror,
I’d write a whole book.
Dozens upon dozens,
of glass pages,
Held fast with golden thread.
On the first,
I see a carousel,
burning,
Or are those the bathroom lights?
On the third,
I see a blue jay,
Melted, slick like wax,
Throat held wide screaming,
Blindly upwards towards the sun.
Across the twenty-sixth,
Are fine-tipped pens,
Strewn, rolling
over gray and blue marble,
Tipping one by one over the cliff,
And into the sea.
Somewhere in the middle,
The pages feel caressed,
Moonlight on velvet,
Where the edge of one world,
Touches the next.
On the four hundred and fifty-fifth page,
There is nothing, though,
You can look through the
Left page to the first and the
Right page to the last.
The page I’m on feels like hot beeswax,
I am warm, and filled with summer,
Though I’m finding it hard to breathe.
The page after mine doesn’t make sense,
It’s got lines that move, that grow,
That dance across the page like
Dazzling, icy spiderwebs in a winter wind.
The last page is crimson,
Struck through,
Violent like golden thread,
Too small to grasp,
Or even see,
Twined around my neck.
No,
Said the mirror,
If words were wishes,
I would not speak.

I’m a wanderer in body and spirit, building connections everywhere I am. Words have fueled my spirit since I was little and read every little thing around me, from street signs to books and over again. I’m excited to share them with you!

You can learn more and follow Piper on
Instagram @piper.montera
Bio Photo Credit: Piper Montera
Mirror photo: Angelus

To have your poetry published in our Poetry Corner, submit your piece (300 words max). If you like (please know, it’s not mandatory), include a short three-line bio introducing yourself, a photo of your inspiration, and/or a photo of yourself along with your composition to PoetryCorner@JoshuaTreeVoice.com Please understand that submitting does not guarantee publication.