The stage is set
and behind the screen
the puppets are poised,
shadows waiting to play.

On the other side
the audience is ready
to watch the dance
of the puppets at play.

The manipulation begins.
Dance by the rules.
A firm flick of the wrist.
Puppets forced to play.

The audience claps
at the beautiful show
while the puppets are trapped
in this shadow play.

Perhaps one day
the screens will come down,
we cross into the realm
of the shadows at play.

Shatter the safety of illusion
of what is seen and not seen
but for now it remains
just shadow play. 

©2018 Seetha Dodd