A silhouette br sits br at a classroom desk— br parroting textbook phrases, br drilled, br dull and dreamless, br by tired teachers br of what and when. br br A silhouette br stands br in the marble museum— br posed in inspection br before a blank canvas— br dutifully br noting date and title — br eyes searching br guide's face br before daring br to respond. br br A silhouette br sits br in the concert hall— br listening listlessly, br ears strained br to program-note passages— br waiting for the right moment br to applaud. br br A silhouette br stands br at the station— br clutching br a ticket to travel, br around the globe, br at programmed pace br in tourist herd. br br br A silhouette br says br 'I do— I will, ' br places br a cold, gold ring br on hollow finger— br binding forever, br in sickness, br till death do part. br br A silhouette br stands br at attention— br waiting the signal br to march, mindless— br left— right— br left— br right— br rifle ready, br aim, fire. br br A silhouette br sleeps br in restless slumber— br drowsed br by the drug br of TV's drone— br dreaming br of multi-multi-millions— br alarm set, br ringing intruder, br herald of nine-to-five. br br A silhouette br shuffles br from place to place— br in rigid br rigor-mortis pace, br eyes lowered, br world weary, br deaf br to the song of the wind and rain— br numb to pleasure, br primed for pain— br on br and br on br till death do part.