DELUSION

As trick mirrors
found in amusement parks
reshape your image
into various shapes
so too do we practice
the skillful art
of self delusion
frequently throughout our lives.

We deceive ourselves
thinking that which we desire
that which we crave, want, strive for
will in actuality come to fruition
matching our preconceived perception
as imagined in our mind
thus fulfilling our dream, goal, objective
to the image, specification, characteristics
that we had thus established
as the criteria of reality in our mind
only to find that very rarely
in true life experiences
do these expectations
meet the delusion of our mind.

Disappointment, frustration, blame
may thus ensue
depending on the severity of each case
building anger, resentment within us
for we look to find others to blame
perhaps making life unbearable
for those around us
while all the time
it is we, ourselves
who are at fault,
being deceived by our delusion.

Herbert Holzbauer
© April 2002

Midi: "Abendlied" (Op.69, No.3)
Composer: Josef Rheinberger
Sequencer: Matthias Voelker