a ride, a fantasy, a good time

for what it is worth, but what is it worth really

when the narration changes as perspectives

glide from white, gray then black

because a person moves in with colors

first touching skin, then sinking deeper

into flesh, mind, heart: the kernel, the core,

the visuals remain the same, water continues to swirl

about: vibrant, dangerous, calm and yet something

has changed, evolved when the beholder turns inwards,

fire fizzles out from a lack of oxygen, dear air

contained in this room suffocating!

chains tugs at skin, flesh, the mind replays the senses

as a fairy tale.

the coldness inside begins to color the outside,

visuals dismal, gray, unbecoming – lacking.

what?

hard to tell since the narration has stopped,

the heart barely beats yet music echoes,

like yesterday’s longings – quietly departing

without protest.

why protest?

a numbing sensation though the smiles on the external

continue to plaster around,

nothing has changed as far as pony rides and narration

goes for salespeople always give a winning pitch.

sounds fair, sounds logical, sounds mathematically correct

though the insides register not,

blaring lights blind sight, glaring, uncommon sense

guts the heart.

a falling leaf decays, the earth recycles energy,

the soul none

for the ride, the fantasy, the cotton candy

dulled a blade, a fire, cold ashes refuses to be heated.

the pitch went on, the go getters, the vibrant swirls

of rainbow promises churned out in factory made processes

to pump the numbers, to goad the passerby

pausing: gently noting the falling leaf already turned brown,

hesitates, uncertainty reflects in his eyes,

a dopamine pump, a plausible tale, an adventure

into?

a journey of transformation of a lifetime,

everything went accordingly to the contract,

all points covered with one slight twist.

when eyes dim,

when skin wrinkles,

when hair turns white,

when flesh shrinks,

when brain becomes foggy,

when the outside fails to register

a response.

code red,

code red,

code red.

the temple is empty, the gods have fled,

the soul stares back at nothing.

shrunken, defeated, lifeless,

the money god, the earthly god, the story cracks

as a temple devours itself.

how?

and a faithful servant sees his god for the

first time

when the outside goes into an eclipse.

then the salesman showed his face,

his identity becomes known, and he was

everything the man lived his life for.