There is definitely an abstract work of art hidden in your verse. How much of reality is ours alone to choose? M.True

Eh . . . we see ourselves in God's own image or some such rot. Three-way mirror. Ahhh . . . Perfect for other people looking at us in order to spot flaws and imperfections, the second mirror where we gaze upon ourselves, seeing only what we want to see, and the absolute cold reality of who we really are are shown through the last mirror. And who is looking at the last mirror? Your conscience. Think about it.

another very deep introspective write
budd

Another penetrating subject. Your 3-way mirror reminds me of that 'frozen face' experiment in which the child sees his/her well being in the face of mother/father. Seeing no expression at all makes the child hysterical in short order. The other is Dr. Gabor Mate's research into lifelong ails is reflected by the mother/father's emotional state as a fetus and into the first year or so of an infant's life. Mate was born in 1944 Budapest and when the SS took over mother's all over the city began calling their doctors - "My baby is crying and won't stop." The doctor replied, "All of my Jewish babies are crying." Such things are repressed as we mature, of course - 'ultimately without a trace' - as you say. Best, Jan