The Haunted House Always Wins

If an observer can become
Implicated in the story,
Aware of being embodied
In the telling of the story,

Then, it follows, the observer
Who’s now enmeshed in the action
Can be expelled, tossed out again
And returned to observation,

Which remains the best possible
Outcome position—returning
To almost before beginning.
Being a part of everything

Feels more or less empowering,
While still drawing straight to the gate
Of loss, disassociation,
Or one’s own end of everything,

The prize for participation.
The troll and the fan are both in
The same game, along with the casual
Dabblers at role-playing. Game wins.