well-lit monuments
can be full of crowds
but still

empty.

cities, like ancient temples:
conspicuous opulence
in service of

our objects of worship.

the sight of
something no one person could do,
set to reinforce

the significance and power of the many,

encouraging us
to stay in our pack,
with the other wolves, or ants,
carefully ignoring that
we may be a totally different

type of animal.

there are those who value individuals,
and those who most value society,
and frequently we find
the latter pretending to be

the former.

for if you must think as the crowd thinks,
there is no you;
all these glittering lights
are just warning signs around the perimeter

of a glorified

stockade