most people know a bolt

of lightning from a flash

of inspiration and some

people like to think they

recognise a cry of joy

from pain or anger from

frustration or fawning

condescension from a

sympathetic tone or a

warm smile from a leer

or timidity from fear or

addictive lust from love

or differentiate their

optimistic thinking from

a self-deluding wish but

but do they know a victim

from a willing naive fool

and do they separate the

well-meant fabrication

from hurtful cold deceit

and if so do they ever ever

so reveal this sly duplicity

inside them on the face

that other people meet?