Paper Hearts

We, all of us, used to have worlds of make-
believe,
Our imaginings cut out into red and pink
construction paper hearts.
Strung from doorknobs and windows,
they caught the breeze and swallowed up
reality.

So full of innocence in the form of
glitter and glue,
Our half-formed and malleable souls were tied up
with bright ribbons.

But, everything is ephemereal and fleeting...

We took naps on carpet squares
(dissected pieces of strangers' forgotten lives)
and, when we awoke, always found ourselves
confused, surprised that nothing stayed the same.

Now...
Now we are fed on anxiety and perpetual motion.
Responsibility replaces glitter,
And reality slowly devours the last shreds
of construction paper hearts.