in the house of the dolls #5

We rode round and round
on the carousel, but never
going anywhere. Never reaching
our destination. Of course,

our painted smiles never met
our eyes. It was all a travesty.
We played at happiness.
At joy. Sometimes, we were even

tricked into thinking we were happy,
what with all the dazzling colors
and shimmering lights. But always,
at nighttime, the silence

and the dark.
Reminding us
what we truly were.
Alone.