What was that?

Rooted I am, or so they say
Perceptive I am, I like to think
Delusional I am not, I never was
Fooled I am not, I keep my guard.

And then ...

What was that?!

That hit me,
swept me
fooled me
drugged me
stupefied me

and then

enraged me
mocked me
derided me
confounded me.

Is it an art inimitable
a fine tuned skill
or a passing fancy
that caught his whim.

How is it done,
fail to fathom.

You step in
and out
all in a fraction.
You depart with ease
of course, when you please.
You had it all chalked out
the span too I suppose.
You remained untouched
having come so close.

Didn't see it coming,
The end or the beginning.

Wiser and lessons learnt
Singed and fingers burnt
Some things remain a puzzle
The niggling doubts
the fragmented parts
will linger a while
knotted up in a tangle.