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Shell Game
by Karl Waldbauer
Follow his gaze
and see my gym-built decoy.
A trap set for the unwary,
constructed with care,
groomed to ensnare the unsuspecting,
the gullible.
Like those before him,
he assumes there is passion,
emotion within this edifice of flesh,
this testament to nature, hard work, and vanity.
So real to the eye, so real to the touch,
I am hollow,
a sham like a back-lot set at a movie studio.
With an atrophied soul
I hold new men in a strong but loveless embrace.
I smile like an actor,
drawing on past experience to give my actions a veneer of warmth.
When someone wants more of me than I can allow
I leave.
Ive grown weary of my act,
weary of the pain,
wondering if this is all I have left to give.
10/11/2005 Posted on 10/11/2005
Copyright © 2024 Karl Waldbauer
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Michele Schottelkorb on 10/13/05 at 04:15 PM this is so sad... a covering up for a true self, tired of the never-ending dating scene... as always, you present a picture in raw form... brilliant writing, my friend... blessings... |
| Posted by Michelle Angelini on 07/04/06 at 08:02 PM Within each of us is the shell game we play - tyring to fool ourselves and others. Yes, it is a wearying game - peace only comes when the shells are turned over and we reveal our true nature. The way you set this up, going from the public display to the private, personal feelings allows the reader to see themselves in your experience.
~Chelle~ |
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