I look in the mirror at the face 
That looks back at me 
Silent, still, waiting for something 
An acknowledgment maybe 

I need to see that she’s alive, I blink 
She blinks back at me 
I let her know that I’ve seen her 
She does the same for me 

I look into the dark brown eyes 
Her gaze is focused and serene 
I blink again to understand 
To read that look, to glean

She smiles a little smile then 
The pleasantries out of the way
She and I are closer now 
Than we were yesterday 

I notice the lines that now hug 
The corners of her eyes 
They tell tales of highs and lows 
Of when she fell and when she thrived

My glance slips down to the smiling mouth 
Lines embrace that feature too 
Telling both in prose and verse 
Of times both cheery and blue 

I look again into the eyes
I see a twinkle in them now
Still room for grace and joyfulness 
Before life’s final bow