The Red Carpet

I sit rolled in a corner Almost forgotten Quietly ignored Crimson velveteen tufts Densely packed Underlay visible Obscuring the majesty Only ever ceremoniously unfurled When dignitaries visit The streets I cover Usually covered in dust Dirty and dank Freshly cleaned To impress and fool In the fetid air The tang of fresh paint Dingy corners spruced The homeless ushered away Children beautifully laundered Flowers lavishly garlanded Overflowing bins emptied So when I am laid out And smart soles Tread on my blushing fibres The illusion is complete And with my presence The bare truth hidden Fleetingly… Till they have gone And I am rolled away Then in my absence The putrid decay Of real life resumes