Smoke & Mirrors

You handed me the darts

spun me around blindfolded

like a childhood piñata challenge

or a pin the tail on the donkey

I thought it was exhilarating at first

playing your games

attempting to aim true despite the

dizzying sensation of walking

on the ceiling holding a mirror

count to 10

hide and seek

ready or not here I come

I didn't notice the splinters until later

or maybe I didn't mind them so much

distracted, as I was

by your waving of the key to your heart

your smile infiltrating

during a sleight-of-hand trick

I had years of an attention drought

before you spoke of Fate and Future

faking

slipping lyrics into existing songs

and calling them your own

it wasn't until I sat down

awareness of feathered bolts protruding from

my shredded chest

that I realized it had all been

smoke and mirrors