"Thoughts of a Reflection"

Claire
Immaculate Conception School
Monroe County, IL


They stare at me and question if they’re good enough.
They bring themselves down and soon they’re in tears.
I feel like it’s me swiping the confidence from their grasp.
But really it’s just their state of mind.

I wish I could tell them how beautiful they really are,
wipe away the tears that cascade down their perfect faces,
tell them every single thing they need to hear
just to feel that confidence
because they deserve to know their true brilliance.
But I can’t.

All I can do is watch their faces fall
because all I am
is a mirror.