Once, on a bright sunny day, <br />A lady walked into my store. <br />Oh yes, my store of crystals and mirrors. <br />A lady well dressed, <br />In her late 30s I suppose. <br /> <br />I got to business, <br />“Yes ma’am, how can I help you? ” <br /> “I would like too see some mirrors, <br /> The finest ones of course! ” said the lady. <br />As asked for I went around my store <br />And put forward, <br />Two of the finest mirrors I had. <br /> <br />I displayed the first one, <br />‘‘Mirror of Egypt ma’am, <br />Well crafted as you can see.” <br />She took a good look of herself <br />In the mirror and said <br />-“Not right! Not right! <br />Can’t you see? <br />It’s not showing the glow of my skin! ” <br /> <br />Quite confused, I moved on <br />And put forth the second one. <br />“Mirror of Belgium, ma’am, <br />The best one in the world! ” <br />Once again she looked at herself, <br />“ Never! No! This one, <br /> Is showing wrinkles on my face! ” <br /> <br />I stood there, not knowing what to say. <br />And she began – <br />“What store is this? <br />And the mirrors you have? <br />Finest you call them? <br />Finest indeed! <br />She walked away in rage <br /> <br />I did not utter a word, <br />I didn’t have the heart to tell her, <br />My mirrors never lied, <br />Her beauty was being washed away, <br />Away with age by time. <br /> <br />Before moving on with my business, <br />I thought – <br />‘Does beauty matter so much? <br />Which one is greater? <br />Beauty of the face or beauty of the soul? <br />Yes, A beautiful soul indeed! <br /> <br />The owner of a beautiful soul, <br />Can conquer many a beautiful faces…………..<br /><br />Lakshmi Sreedharan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/tale-of-mirrors/
