subtext

he shifted to the third person

someone outside his skin

someone easier to understand

someone easier to forgive

somewhere easier to hide

he felt under interrogation 

for years answers formed easily

short sentences small words

now the simple questions

were grey nuanced and difficult

set with slow traps and baited

with articulate parenthesis

now he was no longer first

now he had someone to blame

(February 5, 2026)