Keeping up Appearances

Keeping up Appearances (Inspiration Point) (25th January, 2009, 4.52pm)

Here we go again, hand in hand with
pain, part of our eternal threesome;
watch us sit and dine in perfect time,
with a syncronicity that belies the
truth of us, the rules of being human

emblazoned on our minds; keeping up
appearances. In the mirror, I watched
you watch me dress, the appreciation
tainted with distress; to want to touch,
yet unable to reach across the room.

The dark cocoon of the car enveloped us
with its resentful silence. Later, we will
not make love, simply have sex, clock-
work automatons, versed in the familiar;
you will make me come; an obligation.

Laughter and light surrounds; I abound
with the freedom of conversation with
strangers who do not know my business.
And you, observant, spider-like, to my fly,
wrapping me tight inside your web of lies,

a possessive hand about my waist as we
raise our brandy glasses. Here we reign,
me in my red dress, you in your James
Bond suit, irresistibly formal, the change
between us absolute; we are strangers.

Jennifer Pickup