Wayfarers

Knox The Not-So-Great Deceiver

I watch Sylvie as she naps

in the back of the van, or pretends

to. Her eyes don’t flit

like feeding minnows behind

the thin skin of her eyelids the way

they would if she were

actually sleeping, the tempo

of her respiration not quite right.

I’ve known practiced deceivers

in my life. People who lie so easily

even the rhythm of their breath

doesn’t betray them.

Sylvie isn’t one.