Dumbledore, Man of Many Faces
Back and forth he strides,
Wearing tracks in the floor.
He's different things to different people,
Does anyone see the real man,
The one behind the mask?
Some think him the epitome of good,
The bringer of light,
Some see a Grandfather,
Kindly and benevolent,
Some think him manipulative.
Sometimes he isn't sure himself which he is,
Maybe he's all of them,
Maybe he's none at all.
But he's doing the best he can,
He wishes it could be more,
Wishes it didn't have to be this way.
His choices aren't easy,
He bears their burden alone,
As he paces high in his tower.
Someone has to do the things he does,
Someone has to make those choices,
If only it wasn't him,
If only there was a different way.
I found this old poem about Dumbledore, and decided to publish it. This is how I see him, as a good man, who had to make hard choices. In my opinion, if we take simply what is in the books, then Dumbledore is not some evil manipulative person, he is good but flawed, as we all are. Anything JKR says after the books are published, for me doesn't count. Can't get the poem to go into paragraphs properly as I wanted.