Below is a little piece, inspired by misperception.
After developing it, one of the 196 Yoga Sutras came to mind.

Yoga Sutra 1.8


(on the vritti, or definition of mind, of misperception or mistaken knowledge. The five vritti: evaluation, misperception, conceptualization, sleep, memory.)

Viparyaya mithyajnanam atad-rupa-pratistham

Misperception is mistaken knowledge, founded on an appearance which is not that.

(the intended format of the piece may not translate properly on every browser)

My eyes
brightened when
you stacked a brick
upon a stone and a conk shell
upon the brick. I applauded when
you balanced an iron ball on the shell
and a square of steel upon the iron. I gleamed
when you managed to place a tree stump on the steel
and a sheet of glass upon the wood. How I beamed when
you perched a copper cup on the edge of the glass and a bronze fork
upon the cup. How I marveled when you rested a silver trinket on the fork’s
handle and a golden band upon the silver. Oh, I was in awe when you effortlessly
hovered a platinum locket on the gold and a hearty ruby on the platinum. Oh, I was in disbelief
when you seemed to float an emerald on the ruby and a massive diamond on the emerald.
Yet, I lost believe when it was unearthed that
the stone was balanced on a toothpick
bridged between two shelves.
My eyes blurred
when the simple
truth hit -
victim to the illusion
of firm
foundations.

© 2008, Sophie Herbert