"Four Walls" 1973: poetry by Michael F. Nyiri

A visage shines itself toward people who need it
And people who need it face the walls
and yell "Why are you doing this to me?"
?
The walls never answer
And the visage tries but he's locked outside
of the walls.

We pray to our gods and ask for forgiveness
Then we turn to the people and knock
on their walls
and they open the door but we can't come in
Because our feet are stuck on the rubber
mat outside that says "Welcome."

"No", they exclaim as the visage crams his face
to the windows but he can't get through
the walls because the doors are really locked

I am a wall and you are a wall to somebody else
Nobody can break your wall
If your walls keep you safe

If the wall is crumbling in your eyes
Then it is time to build a new structure
And face a new god
But if the walls are rigid
And you feel you are safe,
No one should push his visage too close