The mirror acts as the objective narrator of the poem. Initially hanging in a pink room, it spends its time observing the opposite speckled wall before expanding metaphorically into a deep lake. It prides itself on being an honest reflection of reality, unaffected by human emotion, yet it develops a symbiotic reliance on the person who visits it every morning.

The woman is a daily visitor to the mirror, heavily invested in her physical reflection. As she ages from a young girl into maturity, she confronts the painful passage of time and the heavy expectations surrounding her appearance. She seeks validation from the water's edge but responds to its brutal honesty with distress, frequently wringing her hands and crying.

These light sources provide illumination for the woman as she looks at her reflection. Because their light softens physical features and alters true appearances, the mirror views them as dishonest interlopers. They offer a temporary escape from the reality of aging.