Facade

They were always sepia

the old photographs

and slightly misty,

the technique

not fully developed.

But though sepia, 

they seemed dark 

and posed and staged,

subjects unsmiling

even the animals 

sad and still.

All were caged 

in the strictness of the set

and the strictness of the age

when an upright facade hid the darkness behind

where the sepia darkened

and turned brown as primeval mud

in a frightful ancient swamp.

So much has changed.

Now we have colours.

Now we smile for the camera,

it’s allowed.

Even the animals look animated

naturalistic

free

but it’s still a facade

still hiding darkness

in the background.

https://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/2024/10/rattling-cages.html