I could be a magician

Give me anything

and I’ll turn it into something else.

With cunning sleight of hand

that no-one else can follow

I’ll take something harmless

and make it a weapon for myself.

Give me your laughter, in another room.

I’ll change it, starting with its reason

which now becomes the stupid thoughts

I had earlier

but how could you have heard those?

So give me a string of words

from the next room, overheard.

I’ll hear “She…” and make her me

and from silence create sentences

slating me.

But then I hear you say her name

and it doesn’t match mine.

So give me the smile you didn’t give

and I’ll decide why you held it back;

because I’m stupid and you hate me

… - but you don’t

I just looked away before you smiled.

So give me the name

of one who despises me,

If it isn’t you.

Someone who gives me harmless things

that cut deeper than razor blades.

Me.

So for my next trick

give me the phone in your hand.

But I don’t need to transform it.

It’s job is done.

Because today you put your

ethical high before me

your own trick

deceiving your words.