The faces in the background

What is understanding
closeness, community, caring?
Is it measured
in hugs
in kisses
I have few of these

Or comments, hits, views
messages,
higher numbers, more characters
more
I staked my life on less

What is real emotion anymore
and what does the dust on the ground
have to say
about being wiped away?

Dirt, grime, untouched, unmentioned
unloved
un-un
prefixes and negative tenses
these are my company

Downtrodden

Real

The dark faces in the background
out-of-focus
they are no less captured than
center lens subjects

So why do they mean so little?