Mirrors in the past

Ho guardato a lungo questa fotografia ritrovata per caso, ma non riesco a ricordarmi molto. Ho solamente un vago ricordo, nulla di più.

Mi sono avvicinato alla stampa per osservarla meglio. Mi sentivo come uno degli alunni de “L’attimo fuggente”, quando l’insegnante, interpretato da un insuperabile Robin Williams, invitava i ragazzi ad avvicinarsi a vecchie fotografie che ritraevano studenti che avevano frequentato il collegio e sussurrava loro:

 Adesso, avvicinatevi tutti e guardate questi visi del passato.

Li avete visti mille volte, ma non credo che li abbiate mai guardati, non sono molto diversi da voi: stesso taglio di capelli, pieni di ormoni come voi, invincibili come vi sentite voi. Il mondo è la loro ostrica, pensano di essere destinati a grandi cose, come molti di voi, i loro occhi, pieni di speranza, proprio come i vostri. Avranno atteso finché non è stato troppo tardi per realizzare almeno un briciolo del loro potenziale?

Perché vedete, questi ragazzi, ora, sono concime per i fiori, ma se ascoltate con attenzione, li sentirete bisbigliare il loro monito. Coraggio, accostatevi, sentite?

Mi pareva di sentire il respiro rauco del professore, imitando un verso primordiale, sulla loro nuca. 

Ho osservato ipnotizzato quel me stesso adossato a mio fratello, bello come il sole, con quel sorriso irresistibile in contrasto col mio broncio. Lo amavo allora perché eravamo anime gemelle, separate e lontane, vagheggiando nell’Iperuranio di platoniana memoria.

Lui scanzonato, che si prendeva gioco dell’obiettivo; e io che lo trattenevo perché ormai troppo tempo era passato senza di lui.

Vedevo in lui un novello rivoluzionario, era il mio idolo: perché diceva le stesse parole che avrei voluto dire io ma quelle stesse parole rimanevano tra le labbra serrate e chiuse. Perché lui era uno che… spaccava mentre le mie azioni si fermavano prima ancora di metterle in pratica.

Mille pensieri mi si sono affollati, ieri, con quella fotografia trattenuta lievemente nell’incavo delle mani.

Il mondo è la loro ostrica, quel “mondo” è ora solo una patella, un mitile che si lascia avvincere dalle onde del mare. Un sussulto nel passato, quell’amore ormai spento, avvizzito e rinsecchito.

Alla fine la vita ci ha resi così, diciamo, umili, ridimensionando i nostri orizzonti, evidenziando i nostri limiti. Do I dare disturb the universe? diceva Eliot, consapevole che il pavimento del mondo si sarebbe ricoperto di segatura. Ma chi lo disturba più, questo universo? Chi osa più? Chiusa in questa immagine c’è la prorompente voglia di essere nel mondo e per il mondo. Quell’abbraccio un suggello inossidabile lungo gli anni. Una ventata di freschezza che non tornerà più.

Mirrors – Justin Timberlake

Aren’t you something to admire, ‘cause your shine is something like a mirror
And I can’t help but notice, you reflect in this heart of mine
If you ever feel alone and the glare makes me hard to find
Just know that I’m always parallel on the other side

‘Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul
I can tell you there’s no place we couldn’t go
Just put your hand on the glass, I’m here trying to pull you through
You just gotta be strong

‘Cause I don’t wanna lose you now
I’m looking right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart
Is a space that now you hold
Show me how to fight for now
And I’ll tell you, baby, it was easy
Coming back into you once I figured it out
You were right here all along
It’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
I couldn’t get any bigger
With anyone else beside of me
And now it’s clear as this promise
That we’re making two reflections into one
‘Cause it’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

Aren’t you something, an original, ‘cause it doesn’t seem merely assembled
And I can’t help but stare ‘cause I see truth somewhere in your eyes
Ooh I can’t ever change without you, you reflect me, I love that about you
And if I could, I would look at us all the time

‘Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul
I can tell you there’s no place we couldn’t go
Just put your hand on the glass, I’m here trying to pull you through
You just gotta be strong’Cause I don’t wanna lose you now
I’m looking right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart
Is a space that now you hold
Show me how to fight for now
And I’ll tell you, baby, it was easy
Coming back into you once I figured it out
You were right here all along
It’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
I couldn’t get any bigger
With anyone else beside of me
And now it’s clear as this promise
That we’re making two reflections into one
‘Cause it’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow’s a mystery
I can see you looking back at me
Keep your eyes on me
Baby, keep your eyes on meI don’t wanna lose you now
I’m looking right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart
Is a space that now you hold
Show me how to fight for now
And I’ll tell you, baby, it was easy
Coming back into you once I figured it out
You were right here all along
It’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
I couldn’t get any bigger
With anyone else beside of me
And now it’s clear as this promise
That we’re making two reflections into one
‘Cause it’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life

Now you’re the inspiration for this precious song
And I just wanna see your face light up since you put me on
So now I say goodbye to the old me, it’s already gone
And I can’t wait wait wait wait wait to get you home
Just to let you know, you are

You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life

Girl you’re my reflection, all I see is you
My reflection, in everything I do
You’re my reflection and all I see is you
My reflection, in everything I do

You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life
You are you are the love of my life