know thyself

you know yourself by
knowing other people by
projecting outward
toward someone who
reflects you back and
validates or
makes you think or
makes you see yourself
as others see you - how
can one be alone
and standing
like a beacon
projecting projecting
and there
is no answering beam,
for your projection
just keeps on travelling
to empty its
light into
dark and silent
wastes until
emptied
you are ill and
empty you have
been and beaming
there is no
reflection to
light you up again

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