Fools Gold

They pan for gold
led by rumor or knack,
Scooping and sifting,
dull rocks they throw back.
Gold in the Booby Rock?
Who would think that?
Hopeless romantic?
Or just crazy as a bat.
Lonely souls
Still believe in fairy tales,
We take their money
shaming justice's scales.
I see you see me
You think you see through,
Intrigued by the darkness
You dream of me and you.
I haven't been born
or I've already died
It exhausts me to wonder
why I have nothing inside.
I'll sparkle for a minute
but don't think you’ve seen my soul,
I  checked when I had hope
and found a wide, dark hole.
Shake away the sludge
and tip the water from your hat,
It's only fools gold
and badly damaged at that.

For Larry Wells 1979