Whispering Between the Lines

Our trick is to seem
Not to speak for ourselves, John,
But for our body authors.

Thus we advance our own cause,
Competing with each other.
Our author could be a saint,
A dogsbody, a monster,

But the hagiography,
Anonymity,
The trial for infamous
Crimes against humanity

Are substanceless without us.
Authors are just repeaters.
Nuances are ours.