operantly conditioned into neurosis

operantly conditioned into neurosis
an inability to accept aloneness
the night-stalked road
warmglow-peopled houses
spaced suns apart.
Commons cafeteria scene
the stage behind it set with people
they are cast; forever linked
in a backstage bond.
the house, shadowed with emptiness
television blaring out its message
of romantic perfection
in lieu-mockery of company.
De-sensitization lies light-years and miles more
behind me, my flaw goes deeper than that
into space man scarely dares to plumb
into galaxies beyond psycho-astronauts' knowledge
into knowledge God and Satan share in
warring over the disposition of souls
in which my terror is only
a weight on one side of
a tightrope walker's pole.

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