With practice you can learn to spot a fake –
sloppy sleight of hand, or a smile too slick
gives it away. The truth is what we make

of the mess we inherit, lessons we take
away from years of blowing red-faced on trick
candles. Practice, and you can learn to spot fake

teeth and breasts, crocodile tears at a wake,
the forged signature on a permission slip 
or counterfeit check. The truth makes

frauds of us all once we see what’s at stake:
pastel Monopoly money, stacked thick.
Children can always spot a fake,

detect the bullshit in stories half-baked.
They know the Santa at the mall is not authentic
(the phony beard gives him away), but make

believe and sit on his lap because the truth shakes
them to their core: everyone lies and nothing is magic.
With practice, you can tell the real from the fake
but unless you’re the crab, what difference does it make?

From St. Louis, Katie Vagnino is a former Visiting Assistant Professor at UW-Eau Claire where she taught composition and creative writing. She is also a member of the Master Singers. Learn more about Katie here.