The Mirror

jerry harrenstein

I was awakened this morning
by what I thought was the aroma
coming from a Turkey being roasted, 
but it was only the fragrance emitted
by my wife whom was lying next to me
and she's definitely not a Turkey.

I rolled over, gave her a kiss on the
shoulder and it could not have felt 
colder.
What's with that?
Was this my wife's way of giving me
the cold shoulder, or am I just
getting older?
I'll retreat for now, so she can sleep
and then I will come back and give her
a sweet kiss on the cheek.

As I worked my way to the bathroom
I noticed it was quite dark for this 
time of day and there was that smell
again.  
What's with that?
I looked in the mirror when I got to the
bathroom and it was black with no 
reflection coming back.
What's with that?
Perhaps it would help if I turned on 
a light, but the mirror remained black
and no reflection came back.

I turned around and walked into the 
living room and drew back the drapes 
to let the Sun's light shine in, but
to my chagrin no light
came in.
What's with that?

While I stood there in the dark I listened 
for any sound that might be around, but
there were no sounds to be heard.
Not even the mumbling of my own words, nor
the tick-tock from my wall clock near to my 
ear, or even the air passing over my lips 
as I stood there and exhaled could I hear
and that's when I began to feel a little 
pale.
What's with that?
What's with that!

Perhaps I should get a bite to eat
and then go and give my wife that sweet
kiss on her cheek.
Into the kitchen I went to open the 
refrigerator's door and made the mistake 
of looking down at the floor, only to see
that my feet were whiter than a sheet.
They were even whiter than winter's first
snow and that's when I realized there
was something I needed to know, but what
I did not know.
My desire for something to eat was no more,
so I slowly closed the refrigerator's door.

I walked back to the bathroom 
and there was that smell again.
What's with that?
I quickly grabbed my wrist,
gave it a twist and clumsily felt for 
a pulse, but there was no beat to be
felt as I tried to gulp.
What's with that?

Wait a second!
Let me think...
The smell, cold shoulder,
getting older, black, black,
no reflection coming back,back,
no light when the Sun should have 
shined bright, no sounds around,
snow colored feet, no desire to eat, 
heart with no beat and my wife
continues to sleep.

What's with that?
What is what's with that?

aaaaaah! Now I know what what's with that is!

                  I'M DEAD!