The Way You See Me – A Poem

When we found each other,
I was just beginning
to put myself back together.
It had taken me months to gather
the pieces of myself
that had been taken from me.
I had been rebuilding,
placing the shards one by one,
the holes welcoming what had been missing.
When you looked at me,
you saw the pieces that I was holding
and told me that I was beautiful.
With a gentle touch,
you helped me put the pieces back,
cradling them like fine jewels.
Through your eyes,
I could see myself as I never had before;
Mirrors had become portals
instead of fun house glass.
Even though the glass sometimes warps itself,
the shards that were broken occasionally try
to wriggle free,
you always manage to help me see
who I really am.
You are able to see me
without the filters of dislike
that have built up over time.
When I look in the mirror now,
though the internal critic can be cruel,
you help me to look deep within myself
so that I can see the garden
that we have grown together.
If I get right up close to the mirror,
I can sometimes catch the flame of my light
that burns brighter because of
you.