The illusionist

You said the magic was gone.

I was wrong

To sit wide-eyed and entertained, awed

For so long

.

No mystical charm exists.

It’s only tricks,

Illusions I insisted on believing

Bereaving supernatural fancies

So exquisitely performed

Watching you pull helpless animals from hats

And this fool dared clap?!

.

Snot soaked hankies turned to carnations,

levitation,

pick a card any card but hearts.

And I knew when you,

Pulling silver dollars from my ear,

How clear, my dear, it was a fraud

but I was wrong.

 

There’s slight of hand,

And then there’s slight of heart.

It’s hard to tell the two apart.

.

Introduce the final act:

Saw the woman in half

Punishment

There is only punishing when one allows it
There is cruelty, yes, and discipline
But thoughts cannot be controlled.
It is a choice to suffer;
An invitation to pain and perhaps contrition
That must be accepted.
Destruction and assault are tangible, sensed
Though the power is lost
When cheeks are turned.
Licks and shocks may not coerce
Confessions sought
Enemies kept close yield disclosure
Caring begets hope for real change

Punishment is only for the punisher.

House of Cards

Sweet dreams

to all the kings

and queens

in my house of cards.

.

Sounds of shuffling dulled,

Jokers fooled into discard piles,

Fanned hands face down,

Spades scooping for ground,

Wagers surrendered in whole.

.

Draw pile pillows 

stocked with diamonds

I’m in

ceilings of hearts

tempting a tumble.

 

The hand dealt:

bent aces and one-eyed jacks,

cracks too wide to balance

Kingdoms long abandoned

and gambled

for greener felt

poker table pastures,

Masters,

asking for hits just past 21.

.

3 of a kind,

We’ll find

a full deck

Worth playing with;

Fair games,

glossy new coats.

empty sleeves

and no bluffing.