deepundergroundpoetry.com
Snow and Mirrors
A blue suburban home
With Christmas lights in October
Soft, inviting, you can almost picture the family that lives there.
Sometimes you think you see them, manicuring the lawn
And kissing eachother goodbye on the doorstep.
You draw closer, trick-or-treat basket in hand.
Surely a family so pristine has a few pieces of candy to share when your own basket is so desolate?
A woman comes to the door,
Dressed in white, bright compassionate eyes.
She gives you handfuls of full-sized candy bars.
So caught up are you
In her generosity
That you nearly miss
The cold home behind her.
All lights out, empty.
You look up at her, and she pats your head.
"Move on, love. I've filled your basket."
You look down to find that she has.
When you look back up, it is to cold, dispassionate eyes with an uncanny valley smile.
All lights out, empty.
"Move on, love."
You can't leave fast enough.
With Christmas lights in October
Soft, inviting, you can almost picture the family that lives there.
Sometimes you think you see them, manicuring the lawn
And kissing eachother goodbye on the doorstep.
You draw closer, trick-or-treat basket in hand.
Surely a family so pristine has a few pieces of candy to share when your own basket is so desolate?
A woman comes to the door,
Dressed in white, bright compassionate eyes.
She gives you handfuls of full-sized candy bars.
So caught up are you
In her generosity
That you nearly miss
The cold home behind her.
All lights out, empty.
You look up at her, and she pats your head.
"Move on, love. I've filled your basket."
You look down to find that she has.
When you look back up, it is to cold, dispassionate eyes with an uncanny valley smile.
All lights out, empty.
"Move on, love."
You can't leave fast enough.
Published 20th Dec 2019
Author's Note
This is a poem written as a train of thought. It is also an extended metaphor.
The title is a twist on 'smoke and mirrors'- a common phrase used to indicate illusion and trickery.
The title is a twist on 'smoke and mirrors'- a common phrase used to indicate illusion and trickery.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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3rd Mar 2020 5:52pm
You did a great job of capturing the readers eyes while giving them the mental slip with the change in plot.... its funny how you added an old woman I would say to your story for that added extra touch of mental magic.... there never really was a woman was there??? she was just the metaphor used to possibly describe past memories of when the house was physically possessed by a family.... again a great attempt of mental illusion.... I really did enjoy the piece....
