The Clay People

Poem created with a prompt based on song lyrics.
-------------------------
The Clay People
By Gabrielle Sawdo
Do you remember that day,
when you looked in the silver reflection
with eyes fresh of recognition?

Every letter scrawled upon your flesh.
Mother’s words. Father’s words.
Never quite your own.

Molded into shapes half resembling a beast.
That was what reflected back.

We were fresh clay people.
Molded into solemn designs.
Molded to remember.

What we must be.
What we could never be.
What we have to be.

Time has passed. The clay, reshaped.
The first shape cowers within.
Even if we wish we didn’t.

It lingers.
It always lingers.

Our previous self.
The clay that was.
Marked by all, even ourselves.

Seconds, days, years. All have hardened the clay.
Flaws baked into the design.
With no choice but to remember.