Mirror

a poem by Hema Rangaswamy

“What are you doing?” people enquire me
“Who are you?” I enquire myself
Known faces and false smiles

Yet,
everyone a stranger

All keeping safe inside their
own boundaries and barriers

Their eyes probing deep
prodding for secrets

Dispensing quick advice with ease
masking their false facades

Sometimes, my reflection in the mirror
seems to be the strangest of all

I smile at the mirror
wondering if it looks false too

I feel disgusted by my smile