we walk onto the stage
innocent
naive

our eyes trace
the dollar bill
waved before us

deep into the trance
we sleepwalk
together

responding
unquestioning
to hypnotic cues

no matter how absurd

but for a few
who suddenly wake
look around

find nothing
is as it seems
dumbfounded by reality

free now
floating unfettered
alone

amongst
the riches and the power
they never knew was theirs

all the while
the magician at their heels
waving dollar bills

frantically trying to pull rabbits from a hat
but armed
just in case