The Safety of Number

The vinyl crackles from the corner,

The strained heartache of the mourners

Mirrored as they arrive in throngs;

No one here quite knows where one belongs.

False allusions, the air tainted –

Not one fellow is acquainted

With those with whom they arrived here.

Random gaggles approach in fear;

In those groups they come, the lumber

Thick for the safety of number.

They sought – but they found - no solace

Expected peace that is modest,

Abundant, glorious, all theirs

And now they mourn what is not there.

Never was? One cannot be sure;

They certainly found an allure

Amongst the music of the room –

Too bad what they heard was not true.