Kaleidoscope

 

One move and everything changes—

Effect so similar

to the science of glasses,

mirrors, and light.

Binding fragments of an image

to create an alluring masterpiece
though it is, in reality, a mere illusion.

One move. And everything changes.
We know this and yet we turn that wheel.
Willingly
though half-blind of what to expect,
we wonder what's next.
Curious, we press questions
'til we end up still wanting to turn it,
not heeding the voices saying:

"One move and everything changes..."
Too brave not to do it so we do.
Steer and steer
'til we well up at the frame we behold.
Now blame wondering.
Now blame curiosity.
Now blame ourselves.
We proved unprepared to see the answers.

One move and everything changes.
We sought for a bridge—
a slim path, even—
to walk across this cliff,
but as though reading along
the climax of a romance novel
and flipping to a missing page,
we found a bigger gap instead.

ONE move and EVERYTHING changes.
Too broken to take it,
we close our eyes shut,
hide in regret in the darkness
behind our eyelids.
Yet that will not save us,
nor fill in the chasm.
No.
It will not undo that one move
that changed it all.