The Mirror Tree That Reflected Just One

When every tree shows just one face, the forest forgets its place.

By Forest Moss

1

In the center of Forestwide Meadow and Glade,

A glimmering grove of new mirror trees swayed.

They sparkled and shimmered and caught every gaze—

The forest was dazzled for sixteen straight days.

2

Each tree had bark silvered from feather to root,

Reflecting not birds, nor the sky, nor a boot.

But only one image appeared in each pane:

Eagleton T.—in a sash, looking vain.

3

The critters all blinked. “Is this some kind of joke?”

“I just saw myself here before I awoke!”

Yet no matter who passed—badger, chipmunk, or doe—

The trees only showed his beak in a glow.

4

Eagleton cawed, “At last! Now you see—

There’s no one who matters as forestly me!”

He planted more mirrors in stumps and in vines—

Till reflections of him gleamed in two dozen lines.

5

“No more confusion!” he cried with delight.

“Now truth is just seeing myself in the light!”

He posed on a log with a polished tree plate—

Then declared it a law: “Self-reflect or self-hate!”

6

Soon Finch wore a pin that said “Mirror Me Too.”

And a squirrel stitched his fur to look red, white, and coo.

The frogs sang in chorus, “Your wings are divine!”

The scrollvine flashed slogans: “One Face, One Sign!”

7

But down in the roots, things began to feel wrong.

The forest grew quiet. The stories, less long.

New saplings all sprouted with mirrored leaf tips—

And forgot how to bend, lest they crack from the scripts.

8

The water turned still in the once-babbling brook—

For every last stream had a selfie-faced look.

Lantern, quite gently, dimmed down her glow—

For her shine showed others, which wasn’t in show.

9

Owliver frowned as he passed one tall pane—

It showed not the truth, but Eagleton’s reign.

He gathered some critters and whispered, “Just stand—

Away from the mirror, and look at the land.”

10

So they built a new grove, with no bark made to gleam.

Just soft leafy shade and a wind-friendly stream.

They planted with paws, and they watered with care—

And saw in each other what mirrors won’t share.

11

Now Eagleton puffed at his mirrored display—

But fewer and fewer would stop or would stay.

And soon, in the silence, he squawked to a stump:

“Hello? Are you there? Say I’m smart! Say I’m Trump!”

12

The forest moved on with a clearer, soft cheer.

The critters grew wiser with each passing year.

And when they saw mirrors, they’d still take a glance—

But then turn to each other and give truth a chance.

🎯 Moral of the Story:

A forest with one reflection forgets how it grows.

✏️ Why I Wrote This

This fable satirizes the cult of personality—where a leader’s image replaces truth, dialogue, and diversity. It mirrors real-world behaviors in autocracies and personality-driven politics, especially media manipulation and narcissistic propaganda.

For kids, it’s a fun lesson about sharing space, seeing others, and not being fooled by shiny things.

For adults, it’s a layered critique of image-over-substance leadership, vanity media, and the slow rot of ego-first governance.