In plain sight

Below a hound’s paw there’s a secret language,
arabesque scrollwork, zig-zag peaks and troughs.
Drag your gaze away from caged serpents,
the dog house, kittens on a stepladder,

and grey-faced men. Details can be used
to distract casual observers. Explore corners,
perception sliding to boundaries to find
what might otherwise be overlooked.

Artists, artisans, and conspiracy nut-jobs hide
their heart’s modus operandi in plain sight,
their ciphers disguised as meaningless scrawl
running along the bottom of a page.