I roam this athenaeum
Seeking for the truth.
But hollow tomes lie rotted
Devoid of lasting sooth.

The sign upon the wall
"Beware of what you take,
In equivalent exchange,
A youthful heart will break."

Cobwebbed corners dimly lit
Hide visions of the past.
Let them lie in dusty heaps,
They were never meant to last.

Peeking through the columns
I see a distant gleam,
And make my way towards it,
Hand blocking growing sheen.

There hangs a polished mirror,
Shining in the shade
Bereft of all inscription
But set in stunning jade.

I see in the reflection
A face quite like my own
The eyes are starkly different,
Through lifetimes they have grown.

Long I stand in silence
Wondering if to speak
I just can't find the words,
Mind is...