The face the skin the eyes
       the receding hairline
it’s not what it used to be 
       : the mirror’s daily challenge

Olson called it a civil war
       the unique appearance
that fades into sameness
       distinctive features lost
over the years so that familiar
       perhaps cherished blemishes
are now disguised under
       the general depredation
of time and exposure
       to relentless sunshine

so that you’re no longer
       who you thought you were
a stranger gazes back at you
       from the flawless silver
and you wonder who
       let this guy into your life

John Lyons