Blankets of Illusion

Money can buy any illusion you choose

We strive for money because we believe

that’s what will make us rich.

With enough money

we can buy a narrative

and play any part,

or become anyone we choose.

We can reserve our place at the table,

thinking it will make us able,

or even that it’s stable.

Delusional,

trapped in an illusion—

one we’ve created to keep safe,

like a security blanket

wrapped tightly.

But what happens

when the blanket starts to unravel?

Will the illusion travel?

We think that having

will make us happy,

that buying what we want

will fill in the gaps,

or even last.

Perhaps

we can use it to take the stage,

switch our masks—

another hack

to attract

and prove to others

we don’t lack.

But what about some of those

that don’t have money

or shiny things?

Some are quiet and content just to be

without a cent.

They simply blend in.

They don’t care about others’ affairs,

just share,

not despair.

They need not create a story

about themselves

to prove their worth to others.

Because they’ve uncovered it

Their worth.

They don’t take notice

but go unnoticed.

They are just fine

behind the scenes,

no need to prove to themselves

who they truly are.

About this poem:

“Blankets of Illusion” explores how money can become more than a means of exchange—it can become a narrative we create to feel secure, fulfilled, accepted, or enough. When we sense something is missing within us, we may wrap ourselves in illusions of wealth, status, belonging, or success. But what happens when those illusions begin to unravel? Through contrasting those who seek to prove they have enough with those who quietly live without needing to prove anything, the poem invites us to question what true richness really means—and whether we can discover it by simply knowing who we truly are.

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