The ballroom glitters
chandelier wealth
sumptuous tapestry
of food on corner tables,
stone hearth
open log fire
flowing warmth,
nonexclusive Earth invitation
to the dinner and dance.

powerless and powerful
crowd doorways,
and already the
powerless forced back entrance
powerful red carpet lane,
powerless trying to look
powerful pretending not to look,
powerless lining the wall

powerful dancing the macabre,
liquorice limbs
and sequin suits,
sharp shoes
and slicing shirts,
flaunted fashions
and fierce fortunes,

the music turns
sucking the theatre atmosphere
into terrifying descent
opening sewers,
plunging dark depths:
Of nonsense land,
Of heart timed
broken music
stabs and scabs
in back, mouth, eyes
Of lies and lip service
twisting truth and
weasel words
propoganda smiles
and razor rhythms
Of sweaty handshakes and
feasted friendships,
narrowed eyes
and measuring minds,

the dancing wealth
falters and strobe flickers,
vitality gripped and grasped
from the room.
for the powerful
weigh heavy,
sucking life-light
dancing drunken
leering at the
powerless wallflowers
fastened to the walls,
entertainment to be
painted over with
whitewash
covering the pain,
the death.

tiredness creeps over
the silent soul screams
of the powerless.

in a blackhole of time
a girl, sunken refugee cheeks,
lips parched, peeled
teeth not pearly white,
whispers from the wall
echoes that reverberate
cutting the crap
penetrating the perfect,
"what's happening
to their clothes?"
and in increasing opacity
costumes, vestments
threads decay,
and everyone sees truth...

the powerful…
pimples and smooth skin
perfected muscles and
sculptured curves
grey hairs and sagging flesh
cancer cells in first bloom
accidents waiting to happen,
death waiting for
their fingernails,
their hopes and
dreams,
their hidden, pushed down
concreted over
humaness.

everyone, everything stops.
facades frozen
breaths held,
reality checked,
but hope blooming...

a nervous finger
brushes a button
and elevator music trembles
into existence...

dance the macabre.

Prompt
When wealth combines with the uncaring and greedy hearts, what would happen if we truly shared? Cared?