46. Red Balloon

Red Balloon

The soul enters
a public realm,
so soon becomes
the fool

by feeling it must
say or do
too much, dance
with rule,

court expectation.
Pride-inflation
balloons the soul
into bright red

foolishness. The
soul abhores
but can't control
the Puffery Patrol,

relentless baiters
of the soul,
ubiquitous louts:
shame on them.

Godspeed to those
souls who can remain
intact, uninflated,
contained, looking

out of the mind's eyes,
sensing what is wise.
--Wary souls. Have
you seen them?

I have. They wait and
watch. I watch and wait
for them to illuminate
the better path.