Under Surveillance Poem by Rebecca Mummery

The atmosphere was bubbling acid,
The faces glowed in warm light,
The faces knew no surveillance,
The faces lacked cold and white.

The atmosphere was running water,
The voices had varied expression,
The voices in synchronised echoes,
The voices lacked stress and tension.

The atmosphere was a camp fire,
The skin kept healthy and warm,
The skin - supple and soft,
The skin lacked Autumn's features - discoloured and torn.

The atmosphere was Chinese whispers,
The lips moved from ear to ear,
The lips - lightly glossed, and freshly painted,
The lips lacked the danger that grew nearer.

The atmosphere was the fizziness gone flat,
The faces shone white in torch light,
The faces knew surveillance, belated,
The reflections in the eye of the cat.