THE TRICK MIRROR

Conversations can get ugly. Like the child

who steps before the fun house mirror

and watches, in amazement, his body

triple in size, twist into a grotesque.

I know a man, who, when defended,

somewhere between earlobe and scrotum,

is like this child

striking exaggerated poses

trying to convince the world

he is bigger than he is.

That he is right.

The whole scene is a sad affair, a failed charade.

Whatever point the man is trying to make

gets lost in the translation.

All we see is the horror he’s become.

To this Dennis The Menace I say:

step away from the trick mirror,

snatch back your cotton candy from Mommy Dearest,

lick the sugar from your pink lips,

and get yourself to the Log Ride.

What you need is a good dousing!

Maybe the water will wake you –

and bring you back to your own humanity.