Core

Human stars flicker in the hazy light
dashing off the walls illuminating
outstretched praising arms; flash and they
shine like manikins set
against a thin stick and there is something so
unsettling awkward and I feel awk-
ward for thinking so. Silhouetted human stars.
Shells of stars. Glowing in the plastic glimmer
floundering in the clammy light.
Jaws clenched tight whilst resisting the
dictated mantra, even more unsettled yet – for
not being ashamed -
Yet this is no ventriloquist show.
Show me the grace bound truth
from its purest
Core.

'These people come near me with their mouth
and honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me' Isaiah 29: 13