blank, expressionless eyes staring in the darkness
wooden lips mouthing words
not seeing, not speaking, but believing they can do so
I do not hear them, I do not see them
they are nothing but shadows like the one at my back
they are no more important than what clothes I wear
but in their eyes they are the world, they are everything
living in a false reality, believing what is not true
seeing what they want to see, hearing what they want to hear
not understanding they are nothing, not believing that they are dead (gone, nothing, lifeless, wood)
for a moment I almost believe with them
as their wooden arms reach out to embrace me (my body, and my soul)
but reality strikes me and I realize
I must do what I must do
and I walk off, leaving them alone in the darkness,
to stare and speak and believe they are real.