Masks

They walk as shadows in the night
Letting darkness guide their way.
Masks hide the faces of people we’ve known.
Where are they going? We ask ourselves
Before realizing we’re already following.

Steps, repeated in the darkness so many times over
The rhythm pounds at us
Begging us to follow.
And who would dare refuse a voyage of such mystery?

Down alleyways we go
Always watching for them,
Us the protectors of those we cherish.
And they turn, watching us as if knowing we follow.
But not a whisper escapes.

Down the road they turn,
Dark but beautiful their strides echo against the walls.
Their masked faces never betray the signs of who they are
But we know them as we know ourselves.

Quickly we follow
Hoping to save them through our own power.
But it is the silence in which we now walk,
And it is now us who lead the chase.
Walking in search of a prize long forgotten,
Knowing we are now the ones who wear the masks.