The stranger and I

The beige drapery

marks the edge of the path I walk

it is a heavy wall.

It shakes at my touch,

and I can listen to the sounds 

that I may never see.

No one can see me,

If the curtain were lifted

you would not find me.

For the person there

would not be the me that you know

but the me you never knew.

Her eyes would be wide,

and she would be ever so frail,

and ever so fearful.

For even a single shot 

could extinguish her dim light,

and leave me empty.