The Devil's in the Details

Faces hidden in corners of photographs otherwise lovely.
Words hidden between words: the author's emotions shining through shutters of small-talk.
A grey windbreaker with neon green stitching, clashing with your powder-blue corduroys:
Your hands swallowed by the sleeves.

I could crop the photos and pretend they are only of you.
I could edit the sentences, remove all sense of authorship.
But the jacket remains, a constant reminder of what is,
what could have been. Each time you wear that
ill-fitted jacket, I want to tear it off,
Burn It
like the flag of a terrorist nation.

But I don't. I dress in my black and white
suit and tie. I perfect my song and dance,
and perform like a trained monkey,
while you are away
savoring your mother's key lime pie.

Reviews

[Droc]

This is brilliant! It is very clever in the way it misleads - either that or I'm stupid - and that continues to intrigue right up to the last line. It is full of wonderful gems , such as "like the flag of a terrorist nation." "But the jacket remains . . . " I just love it. Noel

[Riding the Rainbow]

I see pain and anguished life..
Torment touches him..
Good piece, Ryan.