Prisoner of the Mirror

I never thought a piece of glass--two dimensioned
could hold my entire being.
Don't I have three?
Maybe more, says H.G. Wells.

Push chest out, stomach in;
narrow eyes--wish self away.

If only
i had brown eyes....
if only
i were taller....
or maybe shorter....
if only
i were ever thinner!

or recently,
if only
i were younger....

Those gray hairs can be dyed.
Dim the light--
i can almost pretend
away laugh lines.

Oscar Wilde was right.

When i was young i wished i were pretty
wasting what looks i had.

The glass looks on mockingly.
A cruel moon to my tainted sun.
Who can break me out?

Racing to Nowhere

Reading "books" of soft core porn online
scrolling down for the next scintillating detail
catching up on celebrity gossip
seeing who left who and may marry when

texting friends to gab
ignoring those who are actually there
talking about nothing for hours on facebook

calling for no reason whatsoever....

We are going faster every day.
How come so much is junk?
Where is the plane flying?
How will we know when we are there?

Shadows On the Wall

His wife and children sit
night after night.
Staring at light images
in the magic box.

Sometimes he will read
or nod a little.
He wishes he could talk
to someone.

The other night
he turned to his wife.
"Not tonight, Josh."
She watched the couple
in her bedroom set.

He fantasizes
smashing the puppet stage
that keeps his family
preoccupied and remote.
Alone in the cave with their shadows.