In lines 2–3, what conclusion can be drawn about the imagery created by the mashed potatoes posing as whipped cream? The brilliant stills of food, the cozy
glossy, bygone life—mashed potatoes
posing as whipped cream, a neat mom
conjuring shapes from chaos, trimming the flame—
5how we ached for all that,
that dance of love in the living room,
those paneled walls, that kitchen golden
as the inside of a seed: how we leaned
on those shiny columns of advice,
10stroking the thank yous, the firm thighs, the wise
closets full of soap.

But even then
we knew it was lies we loved, the lies
we wore like Dior coats, the clean-cut airtight
15lies that laid out our lives in black and white.