sweet dreams

we pretend.
we lie.
we know so much
beyond
what is said,
but
the real truth never
leaves our lips,
you can see it in our eyes.
we've learned
to deceive and hide.
it's a sick game
that we've learned
from others,
elders and young alike.
we try with half a heart
to keep the dying
flame alive.
we nod,
we smile, we grimace
as we
turn our backs
and go to another room.
with dry
lips we kiss goodnight.
say sweet dreams.
it's come this.
we are our parents,
stuck in a
familiar gloom.