Poem by Michael Bates
August 15, 2023
Last Laugh in the Funhouse
1.
Among the attractions
there’s always a back room
haunted by mirrors.
Above the entrance—
intruders are welcome
flashes off and on,
along with a green neon
arrow pointing forward.
2.
Within appears deserted,
dim as a dungeon;
but before long, one after
another, reflections show up
on both sides, back and forth…
What poses for fun is figuring
out who looks like who,
whether they match a good
or bad impression?
About Michael Bates
Michael Bates is a retired international publishing executive. Although born in the USA, he has lived most of his professional life in Latin America and Europe. Currently he resides in St. Petersburg, Florida.
His poems have been published in print and electronic form. The most recent are in Passager, The Columbia Review, Miller’s Pond, Verse-Virtual, and The Courtship of Words.