he surrounded himself
with sky-high towers of books
and grey matter
in order to distract himself
from the bruises on his soul

hidden by porcelain masks
he dazzled everyone
with his way of speaking
in their hurry
they overlooked the tiny cracks

his sorrowful eyes divulged
what he could never tell
and his screams drowned in silent smiles
»i wish that i was him«, they said
unaware of him wishing not to be

*(k.w)