Verbal Visions

Houdini Revealed

Houdini Revealed

Silver bands encircle her slender wrists
and she shakes in fear
at their purpose.
For years she has been collecting them
these bracelets of her
transgressions

As she stands for punishment
she can feel them all,
each mistake stacked
upon the last
dragging her to her doom.

She had believed her cunning,
her beauty,
her intelligence,
were enough to unlock them.
They had always been her key.

She had been like Houdini,
basking in her skill
wowing the masses with her
magic tricks
making the cuffs
and her sins
disappear

But they always came back
taunting her in her sleep
threatening to return

Facing the judge,
hearing the crowd,
and haunted by her victim,
all she could hear was

one word

"Life"