there he stood proudly
on a once beautiful tree
chopped down by the people
to satiate their comfort needs
it offered a stage for his magic
there he performed
his wizardly crafts
told everyone who he was
a descendant of a once
powerful magician
with a degree in psychology
he truly was a master showman
his audience's laughter was thunderous
drawn by his tricks
he led their attention
through hoops and loops
of several vivid fiery distractions
skillfullly toyed with their cognition
blinded their awareness
he got them spell bound,
docile, and well entertained
their unconsciousness led them
to believe, he was full of surprises
as time went by,
the show got old
people grew tired
his audience, no longer amused
to them he was
insipid, the opposite of hypnotic
suddenly aware of his hidden tactics
one by one they left
without a penny, a praise,
nor a hoorah to his name
so he decided to end the show
with a disappearing act
without the people's attention
he became a ghost,
a nobody without external validation
he climbed down from his podium
left his worn out boots behind
to be able to start anew
he walked on barefoot
created genuine imprints instead
in other people's minds
while his old boots awaits
for the next ambitious magician
to whoever steps into them
will become the new-
pied piper descendant.

Image by: Yana Tes @Unsplash

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