I am a runner and a traveler. I have always been.

I ran from myself. I ran out of me to travel to astral universes that could reveal my identity and help me find myself.

I searched the Earth to find mirrors to project myself in and see who I am.

I found many of them.

I was dreaming that the mirror I’ll find is magical, and I am Snow White – a stunning air of the enchanted reflection.

Yet, in the image I saw, there was no princess, no Snow White.

Photo by Alex Iby on Unsplash

I saw just ugly sorrows and pains that overshadowed my face. I wasn’t even pretty.

The suffering bounced back and disfigured me and the being I thought I was.

I thought a demon had taken over my soul and made my face reflect its hideous look.

In the Shadow World, I sank into the depths of the Earth to find the demon and unleash myself from its power.

I roamed and rummaged through burning deserts; I burned my skin, fretted my legs to the bones, and bled out.

I still remember the boiling blood’s smell dried out by the desert dust, taking my breath away.

This is when I found its „Ugliness.” I faced it.

I screamed out my voice and my lungs. I cried out, boiling salty tears that stung when touching bleeding wounds. I endured all that pain until I thought I could not bear more.

I surrendered. I wanted to understand why I had to carry this with my curse.

The only answer I got was that „through the lens of fear, suffering, and rage, one’s face can be ugly.”

I left the heart of the Earth to travel to the skies.

I went to meet angels and light creatures.

I flew out to the heavens, watching my white angel wings en-lacing my body.

I felt light, like a feather swaying in the wind, and shiny like the morning star.

I asked every light being I met on my way to tell me why I saw that blunt face in the mirror.

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

But the only answer I got was that „through the lens of love and acceptance, one’s face can be beautiful.”

I came back disappointed. I looked in the mirror again.

Each scar radiated a shining golden light through that filter of love and surrender.

I saw the prettiest amber eyes washed by the glam tears, flashing rays of hope and love, kindness and compassion, of truth and graciousness.

That angelic apparel, channeling love through the light-tattooed wound scars and shapes, is branded to my retina and scratched to my magic mirror.

It reminds me that I am not my scars, I am not my skin, I am, and I chose the lens!

Stay safe!

M.

Mihaela Stancu wrote this poem and has all rights reserved.

(© Mihaela Stancu, published June 2020)