even oceans away
hills and alleyways all the same
they know my name
and I see their eyes as if they were my own
I hear their voices
as if they were my own
except
the voices in my mind-
torments me
-replay
and it’s not something I’d say
something sinister abides in me
an eyeful crow- lurking
on a forbidden hill of black star gladiolus
gift or curse I couldn’t say
because me and them are all the same
it’s in the way I smile
to keep the paranoia at bay
they smile
I smile
but I know all the things they dare not say.
