Mad Lives of Others

The mad lives of others
whirls you into dismay.
The pages of your past,
far from being blotted out,
stare at you timidly
like a dumb dog hoping
the familiar stroke but expecting
a shrug.
But the pages were always there,
you chose not to look closely.
You appeared to be snug
in your nakedness.
Even vain, not knowing that
we all wear a bit of others.
You have been no different
than a cliché.
The mad lives of others
have found you out.