Looking in the Mirror

By Ngozi Osuagwu, MD, FACOG

This poem, “Looking in the Mirror,” is an original poem from my book, Sincerely, Your Gynecologist. Published by Ben Bosah Books, Sincerely, Your Gynecologist is written in letter format and addresses gynecologic and obstetric issues affecting women at all stages of their lives, from adolescence to post-menopause. The cover of the book, created by Paschal Anyaso, also represents Black art in its highest form. 
 
“Looking in the Mirror” 
 
I looked in the mirror the other day and I saw this woman, 
This beautiful woman, 
And I wondered why I had never seen her before. 
I wondered why it never occurred to me that she had a reason for 
living. 
I wondered why it never occurred to me that she didn’t need to  
have someone define her. 
I wondered where she had been all this time. 
Yes, I looked in the mirror the other day, 
And oh my God,  
I saw her. 
I saw someone who needed to be here, 
Someone who was meant to be. 

—Ngozi Osuagwu, MD, FACOG

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Ngozi Osuagwu, MD, FACOG, is the director of the Women’s Health Center at Doctors Hospital – OhioHealth, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, and lead physician at the OhioHealth Physician Group Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hilliard, Ohio. She is the author of several books, including Sincerely, Your Gynecologist and Letters to My Sisters: Plain Truths and Straightforward Advice from a Gynecologist. 

The 2024 theme for Black History Month is African Americans and the Arts. This year, we hope to give a platform to art made by Black members of the ACOG community. We’d also love to hear from ACOG members about works by African American artists that have inspired you or that have particular meaning in your life and career. Email [email protected] to share a story in the form of a written essay, visual art, or a video.