Skimming The Shiny Surface (Poetry)

I know there is more to it than this —
appearances are surely only that —
the outside layer bouncing back an image
keeping hidden what might lurk underneath
disguising its true nature, maybe
pretending to be nothing other than what’s seen
or suggested at first glance.

There is a skin on everything —
a thin coat that’s presented as identity —
the key to recognition — sensed as
shape — colour — size — for matching
to the index habit uses every day
not questioning or looking any further
for who knows what horrors might then be revealed?

Safer to accept and never query
yet the urge to dig persists in some
to go deeper and follow that instinct to discover
how much of life is real — how much deceives
the eye and the logical side of the dulled-down mind
while the ghost of imagination skates around
skimming the shiny surface
searching for tell-tale cracks.