Hollowman Poem by Shantanu Bhattacharya

Don't scratch deep;
we live hollow.
Don't ask of the sea;
we are masters
of the shallows.
Scratch all you can;
of vouchers and tan.
We have discounted
all tears and hopes.
All dreams we dream;
are tinsel and scheme.
Schema and layout
and other payouts.
You are troubling
asking for meaning.
We fight too.
Our bloodless coup.
Brain wins always
Heart? They pump;
Not bleed.
They are not
for bleeding.
We are what we have
not what we can.
We build only
on trampled sighs.
Take all your sympathy
Obliteration is us
We are death walking
Don't ask for
the cape.
Or the mask
It's what we are,
Oblivion beneath.