The Supermarket Bathroom
August 15, 2019
August 12, 2019
I looked in the mirror today
in the bathroom of a supermarket
and greeted an unfamiliar face.
One brushed not just by the finger-tips of the pine branches,
but by clouds of dirt,
droplets of sap,
and by the breath of the cycle
of life.
I looked in the mirror today
at the reflection of the woman
behind me in line.
She did not know
of the myriad experiences
nor the laughter and color
of the stories.
Behind the mask of dust
upon my face.
She looked in the mirror today
and greeted an unfamiliar face.
One burnt by the sun
dewy with sweat
shrouded in unkempt waves.
We looked in the mirror today.
We each saw two faces,
we each recognized one.
We each had our stories,
we each told none.
- Nell, 18, Berkeley