Dr. Frankenstein’s Mirror
This is me
reflected in the ornate mirror.
Narcissism motivated him to hang it above his desk.
Why else gaze upon himself
each time he perches before his clutter,
his face in a gold, baroque frame.
My grimy fingers stroke the silvered glass,
grotesque image, assembled identity.
Stubby, clumsy fingers – calloused, work-worn,
were these a smith’s hands? a farmer’s?
A prisoner’s sentenced to hard labor?
Hands sutured to arms of different lengths
from two separate corpses provided
by busy resurrection men.
This cranium puzzles.
What bones did he epoxy to create my face?
Why the over-hanging brow?
The weight of this head presses,
stresses my Tinker Toy spine.
My unnatural flesh, jaundiced and mended,
sprang from The Doctor’s madness.
Such hubris, a god complex
to think he could make man.
The sight of me fuels my temper;
choler troubles my carpentered chest.
Wrath seizes me
I grab the monstrous mirror
with its baroque frame
and my hideous image
and slam it upon the cellar flagstones
Now a hundred shards reflect
a deconstructed monster
compounding my disgusting self.
Hush now,
I hear The Doctor coming.
5 thoughts on "Dr. Frankenstein’s Mirror"
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This is a wonderful exploration of a topic that has obsessed me for much of 2026! Check out my poem today for proof…
I think there is a theme emerging today. Love the patchwork of questions! “resurrection men” – yes! The ending is stellar!
good idea to write from this POV..
but/and (some unsolicited thoughts)
it feels too long and too much punctuation.
ditch the first stanza and
try to finish after ‘to think he could make man… your title sets the scene enough with these parts..
ditch the questions marks, and italicize these part, to hint at an inner ‘voice’
the question mark is too modern on the page to convey a monstermind wouldfeel more madnessmaking ifit had thefeel of a more runon and on and on sentence. 🙂
🙂 all that to say. there’s a more impactful bone to be had here don’t be afraid to perform a little surgery.
I love tinkertoy spine.
Fascinating perspective.