Hide and Seek

I am a champion of hide and seek.

Finding the dark corners

I fold myself in two, fourths, sevenths-

Until I am small enough to go unseen.

The light shines, but doesn’t find me.

I am not in there, I cannot be found in the wide open spaces.

That is not me, that is who you pretend I am.

She is the one you find,

The one you elate in

The one who inspires you to yell, “I’ve got her! I know where she is; I see her!”

But that is not me.

That’s why you can’t see.

You are so delighted to have her – a projection, a falsity

you don’t even notice that I’ve disappeared;

folded in on myself completely.

Ninths, elevenths, twelfths.

I fold and refold until I begin to break.

But you can’t see, you don’t care, to you I’m not even there.

You have what you want and have no need for me or the side you don’t want to see.

Split yourself in two,

Push one way down deep.

That’s how you win hide and seek.