Charade Poem by Bryan Riley

Charade
Masquerade
Parade about in
Nylon-stockinged
stillness
Fill/
this empty space
Chase/
the early morning light
Fight/
to find you
Unwind this
eggshell-thin philosophy
Prophecy. Heresy.
Snap back to reality
spirit-world sodality
a hornet's nest
There's a forest
of fishnet growing
in my shower stall
Call out to/
the dying sun
The night has won
the daily battle
Asleep by the sound
of the stars
whispering:
to the darkened moon
Awake to venture
to the task.
Put on a mask and
play charade
Now/
come and dance
the masquerade