Through The Looking Glass

I wrote a song by that name once.  Through The Looking Glass.  It was crap.  Catchy crap but crap nonetheless.  It was some to do with going through a mirror (ala Alice) to go from this world to a new and different one on the other side.

Or that’s how I remember it anyway.

Upon further reflection, though (like the pun?) I think that phrase has a different meaning for me now.

Think about a mirror.  Think about looking into a mirror.  What do you see?  Your reflection, sure but you also see all of the things behind you.

I think that’s telling.

Mirrors are weird things.  They seem very magic because they reflect what is there, sure.  But the reflection you see isn’t always accurate, depending on the angle you’re using or the quality of the mirror (read: funhouse).  In fact, strictly speaking, what you see in the mirror is NEVER accurate because it’s always backwards.

And yet…we use them to see what is now.  What does that mean?  What does that get you?

Mirrors have always seemed like magical things which is why I think they never lose their metaphoric capabilities.

Why are we always a little embarrassed by being caught looking in a mirror?  Does it seem like we’re doing something we shouldn’t be doing?  Looking at something we shouldn’t be looking at?  Looking too hard at whatever we see?

I dunno – just thinking about it.

Maybe because I’ve been doing a lot of looking at what’s behind me, possibly to see if the reflection I’m actually seeing of myself is accurate.  Or seems accurate.  Which, as we have established, is impossible.  Strictly speaking.

~ by bronwynjoye on May 4, 2009.