We live in this world of puppeteers and marionettes
of wooden tongues and painted smiles
of strings and scissors.

It is your duty as the puppeteer or marionette
to know what is your role on the world stage
when performing for the revered audience.

Are you controlling the strings?
Manipulating minds by using your scissors
and putting your words into a marionette’s mouth.

Or are you controlled by them?
Fed the stories by wooden tongues
and enraptured by the painted smiles.

Or, perhaps, you are a member of the audience
the most knowledgeable of all,
Ever knowing the fate of the naive marionettes
Ever aware of the evils of the puppeteer.

Yet the show goes on.
You merely spectate,
silent and astute.

Then, before you are fully aware,
It is the end of the world of puppeteers and marionettes.
The strings have gone limp
Their masters have succeeded
And the revered audience walks away
with a smile,
without a soul.