Peering in the dancing shadows with delight

I saw how you played with light

 

Casting false truths upon the wall

Traveling far and promising that you would call

 

Having peered behind the curtain

Knowing the mechanics of the trick

I thought I could not be fooled

I was certain

 

Yet, I too became enraptured by the narrative

Believed myself imperative

 

When the fourth wall broke

I assumed I was simply in on the joke

 

So I picked your shadows from the stage

Wove them into a cloak to smother my rage

 

Stitching layers of shadow for invisibility

That I might not harm your fragility

 

When asked about the deceptive weave

Id respond

A magician never reveals what’s up their sleeve

 

Now I must undo the tightened fist

That clutches the cloak to my throat

Hand over wrist

 

Let my body unfurl

Relax the protective curl

 

Give myself permission to grieve

That which I so wanted to believe

And allow myself room to gently leave