he surrounds himself with beauty
and a wall as dense as emptiness
that threatens to extinguish
the flicker that remains;
remains of what must once have been
a fire, warm and bright.

he surrounds himself with beauty
and a solitude that brings no peace,
but rather harbors bitterness,
devouring his soul.
his soul, a cold and lonely orphan,
hiding from his heart.

he surrounds himself with beauty
like the memory of a dream.
like a mask he wears without believing
for a moment, in such things.
such things as closeness, honesty
or yet the love of friends.