Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
So… I was looking for graphic novels when I stumbled upon “Mirror of Love” by Alan Moore on the Kindle Store, for some reason it was tagged under the genre, even though the book description clearly said it’s an epic poem with pictures. But since Alan Moore’s also behind titles like “The Watchmen”, “V for Vendetta”, I decided to read his poetry.
My edition begins with a foreword by American author Robert Rodi, penned in 2003, while “Mirror of Love” first came out in 1988. Rodi writes about his review for this epic poem, where he called it “an attempt to distill the entire history of homosexuality to serve as the subtext to a sustained love affair between two hermaphroditic angels, mirror images of each other.” Which is a fair summary of what the poem is about. Rodi explains how “Mirror of Love” was published to counter Britain’s antigay Clause 28 – a piece of legislation introduced under Margaret Thatcher’s government that stated a local authority “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality”.
Given the context of why Moore wrote “Mirror of Love”, it is of-course serves as a compelling piece of literature, a reminder of the historic trials and triumphs of those who loved without regard for gender norms. From Greek legends, to real figures like Oscar Wilde, Wilfred Owen, Moore packs his poem with stories, anecdotes and a scathing critique of the Thatcher government’s homophobia. But even though the poem is over 100 pages long, it doesn’t feel “epic” in nature, and gets over in a flash.
Perhaps it’s Moore’s usage of free-verse style, which makes “Mirror of Love” read like a short essay, rather than a grand literary poem. There’s no rhythm or meter to the words that flow through the pages, and while I enjoyed reading it, it’s not the kinds I would want to revisit.
Rating: 3.5 on 5.
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