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 long-term partnership. 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 maternal identity, 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.