Clark Gormley #3 Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds

can be tilted to close

downwards towards you

or upwards towards you

downwards

gives you more light

and more privacy

unless there’s someone

on the roof next door

although one above the other

the slats collect dust

respire it out of the air

and it sticks like

cigarette tar in the lungs

without a firm backing

they’re hard to clean

slithering away like 

a child having chocolate 

wiped off their face

but even when they’re open

you don't quite get the full picture

horizontal lines

the price you pay

for brightness control