What Lies Beneath (Poetry)

The moment that I’d gone
                                        did a sudden switch flick? —
Did a snake slide out from under
                                        their comfy sofa?

I imagine their voices turned ragged —
                                        blood-torn
now raised into bickering
                                        snarl traded for snarl
those pleasant masks slipping
                                        words cutting and cruel
the room — its warm fug —
                                        growing tense
                                                quickly cool —
                                                        blunder-
ing to brittle — and blind truth skulking
                                        like some monster beneath
rises up to the surface
                                        with bubbles and breaks
the tableau of family —
                                        scatters it thin
destoying the perfect
                                        that picture a fake
printed bright for the visitor
                                        cracks coloured over
and holding together
                                        for dinner and chat
(or as long as it takes...)

with the innocent guest
                                        playing gamely along
all the poisonous pets
                                        safely hid —
camouflaged — not a fang
                                        nor a claw visible
’til the moment I’m safely
                                        gone.