Upside Down Town

Upside Down Town Not a ripple disturbs the Surface of Sunset Lake. In the bright sun I squint across the pond, And there I see my town In the water mirror, Upside down! Houses standing on their roofs, Their colors bleeding greens And grays and yellows like Paints on a silver-blue Impressionistic canvas. The gnarled branches Of the oaks and maples, Instead of reaching skyward, Stretch their leafy fingers Toward the bottom of the lake, As if fishing for their lunch! Upside down cars whiz by Above the houses, Wheels spinning in the air. A patch of feathery yellow reeds Grows down, not up, and Sweeps the sandy depths. Do you suppose that people In those topsy-turvy houses Are standing on their heads? Or walking on the ceilings Just as Mary Poppins did? Maybe they just float, Like astronauts in space, And drink their soda Through a straw and eat From drifting plates! It’s disorienting, yes, To say the very least! I really think I like My town much better Right side up!