I chant this mantra
over and over
at a brick wall
and no-one hears
in solitude
I consider
the afterword

This long silence
locked in technological paralysis
wired
to dutifully feed insecurities
until tedium
invades private thoughts
in separate corners
and all the cries for attention
shock us back to life

to act now
is to return for the encore
the night has already ended
but the crowd want more
only for self-reward
of feeling loved and adored
only for applaud
a show of fickle hands
only for applaud
only for this shallow reward
You dance.

I chant this mantra
over and over
I chant this mantra
over and over
I chant this mantra
over and over
I.