Magician

I had a friend some time ago
And he knew magic tricks
He’d wear a cloak
Of deepest black
And twirl his magic stick


‘Til doves shot out the end of it
And rabbits in his hat
I loved his deck
Of playing cards
Red hearts and spades of black


Until the day he smiled at me
And cocked his tousled head
And told me words
No one had heard
And secrets never said


“Look very close,” he whispered then
“Watch how I move my hands.”
The magic tricks
I loved so much
Were only that— a sham!


He showed me secret doors and traps
And hidden springs and wires
And playing cards
And colored scarves
And powders that made fire


He taught me too to do the tricks
And how to stage a show
He was so pleased
And I just smiled
Like I was glad to know


I wish he hadn’t said it, though
I wish I had it back
That last illusion
Genie’s ghost
That swirling cape of black

Player

You shouldn't have let me see your scorecard.
I know you keep it in your back pocket.
You mark it every time you win a round
Every time someone cries because of you
Or sobs
Or breaks
Or gasps in pain and hopeless confusion
Every time you're on top.
Am I a player in your game too?
I want to see if my name is on your scorecard.
When you make me laugh
Or smile
Or tell you I love you
Is that because then you get more points when you take me down?
I'm done.
I quit.
I'm walking away from this.
Mark your card.
You win by forfeit. 


© Andrea Grace

Mirrors and Windows

She thought she saw a monster's face
That looked into her eyes
Trapped behind
The mirror's glass
A nightmare born of lies


When she looked out the window, too,
She saw it yet again
And turned away
But still she feared 
That people could see in


She wrapped a blanket 'round herself
And thought that she could hide
But no escape
From curious eyes
No matter how she tried


So she pulled shut the curtains
And she sewed them all up tight
She kept outside
The people's gaze
But also blocked the light


But still she saw that face she feared
When mirrors she did pass
She covered them
With heavy sheets
So couldn't see the glass


She lived out all her days like that
No mirrors, curtains closed
And never knew
     This single truth—


               That she was beautiful.

~© Andrea Grace

Conspiracy

They took my notebook— burned it up!
And my computer too! 
'Cause I had written things they thought
No person but them knew


Their secrets all were in there
(It's true I snooped around)
And all the plans they had conceived.
They hid, but then I found!


I looked through filing cabinets
I had to break some codes
I may have hacked computers,
And I might have stolen notes


'Til finally I had it all— 
Their whole entire plot!
I was about to tell the world
But found that I could not!


They broke into my house (the fiends!)
My proof, my records— gone
They think that they can force me to
Just shut up and move on


But they don't know me well enough.
They left one thing behind. 
They took my notes; but their mistake—
They left me with my mind!


~© Andrea Grace