brass wears a thin veneer warped reflections fractured mirror façade is a snapshot, a picture that lies candied veneer for childlike eyes tricked are the feuding fussing folk conned by canned silver-tongued smoke she spoke of two with metaphor consequence and heretofore laced by pouring a bawdy brew sweetened with a blinding cue mesmerized she hypnotized dancing emerald eyes trapped me in her wily guise we drank a tepid tea for two concocted by a crafty shrew sweaty salty we both withdrew bidding a sweet adieu swirling clouds blind to blur tantrums twist failing cure plans are the unopened wish goals reek of rotting fish