the speculum...

she gazed into the hand held mirror
but herself no longer could she see
she drew nearer and nearer
and still herself she could not perceive

for there, there in the silver speculum
deep inside her outreached palm was an image
so chilling she almost succumbed
staring back at her from his metal cage

piercing her heart from another time another place
exposing love long since tucked aside
in the dainty fingers of her past she held his face
the face of all held holy still and her thoughts collide

into the knowledge that she could no more part
with the vision of this, this reflection of her fate,
than could she divest herself of her beating heart
breaking as it was for her beloved soul mate