Through Canine Eyes
My reflection in the
bathroom mirror
maps every micro
change
I struggle to accept
as I say goodbye
to my youth…
at the hands of time,
the pull of gravity,
and the aftermath of
consistent movement.
I judge only what I see
on the surface.
But the true miracle
of reflection
I discovered in the
soulful gaze
of my dog’s eyes.
Dogs are honest…
they see all that is
before them
in a deep and
unconditional way.
In their eyes,
I see the person they see…
kind, caring, generous,
loved.
There is no age,
no pain,
no change.
No face…
only soul, trust,
adoration, and
compassion.
Not a surface,
but a being who is whole,
wonderful…
a universe
revealed through the
truthful eyes
of a canine.
Oh, I love this so much, because yes, dogs absolutely see past the body. They see straight to our soul, which is pure and beautiful. And this hit at such a perfect time for me. I’ve always looked young for my age, but now at 55 and in menopause, time is catching up a little, and I’ve found myself cringing when I look in the mirror. Meanwhile, my little dog is 16 now and aging too, showing her own signs of time passing. But when I look into her eyes, I don’t see age. I still see that young little puppy, full of love for her momma. I think that’s one of the gifts they give us. They remind us how to look past the surface and see what has always been there. Beautiful poem, thank you. 🩷
This hit me right in the chest because I've spent so many mornings overanalyzing every new line in the mirror, but the second I look down at my cat in my case, I'm reminded that the version of me they see is the only one that actually matters ✨