What is illusiona deception or a revelation What is a poemamp8212the truth or a diverting flash a mirror showing everything but itselfNicky Beers latest collection of poems is a labyrinthine academy specializing in the study of subterfuge Marlene Dietrich Dolly Parton and Batman are its instructors. With an energetic eye she thumbs through our collective history booksamp8212and her personal one tooamp8212in an effort to chart the line between playful forms of duplicity and those that are far more insidious.Through delicious japery poems that can be read multiple ways and allusions ranging from Pucciniamp8217s operas to Law ampamp Order Beer troubles the notion of truth. Often we settle for whatever brand of honesty is convenient for us or whatever is least likely to spark confrontationamp8212but this Beer knows is how we invite others to weigh in on what kind of person we are. This is how we trick ourselves into believing theyamp8217re right. amp8220Listen to how quiet it is when I lose the selfdoubt played for so long I mistook it for music.amp8221Real Phonies and Genuine Fakes asks us to look through the stereoscope which image is the real one This oneamp8212or this one just here With wisdom humility and a forthright tenderness Nicky Beer suggests that we consider bothamp8212together they might contribute to something like truth.