I walk through the crowded city.

A swirl of reds, blues, greens

surround me. Yet I remain alone.

They put on their masks and look

for a mate – someone to complete them -

a missing piece; they believe themselves

to be broken, when they are alone.

A society of peacocks who have been told

they cannot be whole without another.

When hiding behind their bright colors,

they expect to find

to feel that spark like a match

against their bits of broken glass:

lighting them up and

making the pain of the world

worth it.