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Master of Manipulation
Lisa Frederiksen
The voice changes — soft, solicitous
The brows scrunch and the forehead creases,
Framing eyes that bore intensely into one’s own, as if to
Telepath sincere concern as the body pushes forward
Every so slightly
And the hands compose themselves; one a
Repository for the chin, the other resting on the
Knee to exude concentration on par with
Rodin’s, The Thinker.
And then come the words - soothing - oozing
Concern as they wrap themselves in probing questions,
Gentle explanations and believable excuses
That cause her to drop her guard and
Rush to their embrace with
An open mind and trusting heart,
And believe the sincerity that pours from
Every pore, Unaware the alcoholic’s
Truth is the Master of Manipulation,
Trained by the symptoms of his disease
To lie, to deny, to mince and parcel; to tell the
“Truth” by omission in order
To secure sanction for his unacceptable behaviors
No matter the cost to those he loves for
He, too, is Manipulated by the Master.