life can be brittle...

peanut brittle in the basement...
no so simple,
not so trite.
peanut brittle in the guest room
where there has been no guest
for many a night...

what does this mean?
what do we do?
not else but this:
we must move
we must flee
leave this wicked brittle
to whomever it may be.
for life is not free
and mine is worth more
than peanut brittle
to me.

why, why...and why - or maybe just peace

peace
as they say
sure, sounds great.
between you and I?
we'll see
(please)
as I lean by
the window
(of peace)
all I have to do
fall through
and then I,
will have peace...with you?
...
why can't you lean?
why must I do all the work?
why can't I (dream)?
why can't I - why, why, and why?
...
so I must sacrifice?
I must...sacrifice...
to have peace - with you?
in truth, that's all I've ever
really wanted to do
all I've ever
really wanted to do
is just have peace with you.
the problem is
(me)
admitting it
why am I so stubborn?
why am I so hard?
(my heart)
why do I struggle,
struggle, and struggle?
and fight, to keep my guard?
I scream I thrash I tear I rip
inside
(and I haven't a clue)
what must I do?
what must I, you, we - do?
you must realize
I'm not talking about me
I'm talking about you.
I'm talking about you.

the land of the free

the land of the free
that seems
to no longer be
no, we are enslaved again
- do not fear -
rejoice!
do not act like you did not know
we have again - proudly - enslaved our people
as we are taught to
at the earliest ages
we are experiencing the greatest slavery
of all
in our country with limitless virtue
individually
and as a whole
- as a nation -
we are proud
to be enslaved
to ourselves
the most wonderful slavery of all
the most fulfilling
glorious
slavery of all
you, doubter!
tell me what else matters?

sometimes...

I don't always think
in the same ways
a little different
my mind plays
for example - today
or tonight, I should say
driving
not a cloud in the sky
not either a star
and there, what a pretty red light I saw
as I nearly pass through
in my car
if not for habit
I would have not a clue
about some of the things
I sometimes do

oh what a God

oh what a God
to not give us
what we
scream
for

oh what a God
- we pray and pray -
to not
always
give us what we
wail
for
to not always give us
simply
what we
want

oh what a God
if it were me
I would probably laugh
as I shake my head
as I watch
as I watch your misery
that you begged for, feebly
- as I watch -
that I gave you, freely.

Posthumous words to Vinsuego

Vinsuego
you died today
or maybe yesterday
whenever it was that I realized
you weren't asleep,
sideways,
on the blue imitation pebbles
in your bowl
which desperately needed to be cleaned
but i guess
not as bad as it does now
since, you're still there
(but not)
we never really talked
(honestly)
not even with our eyes
but I'll miss you all the same
I assumed - and I still do -
that you were a male
forgive me if I'm wrong
I wish you the best, bright blue fish
and I do hope that you are where you belong.

defective soul

i heard of a defective soul
today
a defective soul
what does it mean
to have a defective soul?
hollow?
hidden from society?
starving - ravenous
a quick fix for the soul
anything
the smallest bite
a defective soul
of how much do i know?
of how much do i know?
perhaps it is you?
perhaps it is me.
in the sunlight
plain to see
no so far from society
not so far from you and me
never mind that though
just two words i heard in a show

"everything happens for a reason..."

"everything happens for a reason..."
so it does
or so it may
it could be
that we simply cannot say
"everything happens..."
that is for certain
but "for a reason?"
feels like a curtain
cannot be turned
cannot be opened
what is behind
perhaps another question
"everything happens for a reason"
an excuse
for what we know not
behind the curtain
what "reason?"
if we do not know,
how can we assume it
reasonable?
maybe we should shorten
our favorite expression
"everything happens..."

Ten Tips for Reducing Stress!!

ten tips for reducing stress
makes me smile
every time
just the first line
helps my little mess
so thank you
ten tips for reducing stress

life - or - smile

life
here it comes-and
we're generally not ready
for it-and
we didn't have a choice
in the first place
-which-
might make one think
if we didn't have a choice
for our own existence
what power is in our choice
at all? and
what are we all so
worked up for? and
why are you not smiling? and
well, why not? given our
circumstances
what else is there to do?
(smile)