The Mirror Knows: Embodiment, Desire, and Self-Perception in Intimate Relationships
Category: Written Work
Author(s): Karissa Lewis
Presenter(s): Karissa Lewis
“The Mirror Knows” is a creative nonfiction poem that explores embodiment, internalized comparison, and the psychological impact of perceived romantic displacement within intimate relationships. Through recurring imagery of mirrors, ghosts, and bodily measurement, the poem examines how self-perception can fracture under the weight of imagined ideals and unspoken desire. The speaker navigates themes of intimacy and selfhood while confronting the tension between devotion and self-erasure. By situating the body as both witness and battleground, this work invites reflection on how relational dynamics shape identity, embodiment, and the negotiation of worth.