What is it you behold

What is it you behold

In the flicker

Of a candle

The reflection in a mirror

A tantalising glimpse

Something other

Than deliberation

Looking back

Takes much longer

When your eyes betray

Their distress

At the venality

Of wishfulness

So easily fooled

By the difference

Between one expression

And another

Hoping for so much more

Than was there

Before the brief startle

Of a night light’s flare

Smokescreen diplomacy

Seeing what is not

To ease the discomfort

Of blank space

Empty air

So much better

To instil substance

On the movement

Of shadow.