the master's hand
If green were red and orange, blue
I don’t know what I’d make of you
For when you’re there, you’re never here
And when you’re here, you’re never there
You scrunch up tight until you’re small
You pull and stretch to make you tall
And add big things so you look brave
Then recoil at speed from your charade
Your eyes and ears are wide for clues
Of what to say and what to do
And how to walk until you’re there
And pout your lips and style your hair
And follow, tag, be something new
And edit for the smartphone’s ‘you’
Come, step off from this toxic world
And catch your breath, the truth unfurls
The manufactured grip that’s held
For corporate gain has cast its spell
Instead remove the lie-filled lens
The untold truth seeks to befriend
Their winding tendrils draw you in
To skewed desire and fancy spin
But while time and age will break this down
Soul and spirit can turn around
And grow in love, wisdom, passion
Enduring more than fleeting fashion
You’re so much more than sales to fill
So, make of this just what you will
Look in the mirror, look in deep
I see such beauty, yours to keep
In fact, I’d say that you, by far
Are simply perfect as you are
Gillian Richards 2020
