Sustainable

The higher the hope
the harder it's dashed
so learn how to cope
before the check's cashed

The bigger the deal
the quicker it sours
so crank on the reel
before offense flowers

The sweeter the treat
the deeper the rot
make sure what you eat
doesn't take what you've got.

Game Over

Facilitate the killing
to make it to The Boss
your lack of mercy chilling
though you don't mourn the loss

you've got the highest numbers
and you're earning better gear
but when your free will slumbers
you're just cannon fodder dear.

Serving

Please pray for those with no bird
before you start carving your beast
or making sure the gravy's stirred
to properly slather your feast,
exemplify the holy word
and harbor those with the least
as one who was born in a stable
welcomes any to his table.

Breaking Up

When I walked these fields there were weeds to my knees
and just enough snowflakes to make my feet freeze
the jacket I wore wasn't keeping me warm
as I battled my way through the crunchy brown swarm,

I had just left my mother and siblings at rest
in the seedy motel where I'd quietly dressed
each neuron exploding with the wantage to cry,
what caused my family to wither and die?

Trudging to school neath a sky with no sun
I felt my connections to life come undone
why play the part when there's no guarantee
that all I hold dear wouldn't just cease to be,

composure isn't always about strength of will
at times we grow numb from observing the kill
completely disabled by unforseen grief
divorced from the world by disturbed disbelief.

Originality

Isn't it splendiferous
to be vociferous
and cry with conviction
about your predilection
to be who you are
till the day that you die
just be who you are
and I'll tell you why
you can't please all people
or sometimes even one
but you can make yourself happy
if you do what I've done--
be who you are!

Restricted

Off to my prison I go
the bars are simply words and debts
but they're still there
just like the woe
that binds me like a chain of rust
which grinds my tired bones to dust
and undermines what was a lust
for life beyond compare.

Bending

I was told I could be what I wanted
but all I've ever wanted is to be
devoid of the debt and deception
from which I now wish I was free

the catch with epiphany moments
when staggering truths are revealed
is learning to value the torments
within which the treasure is sealed

accepting the mantle of leader
implies being easily led
becoming resilient like cedar
can nurture the timber to face being bled.

Countered

Everyone starves for the skinny
but all you've been dishing is fat
keep prattling on like a ninny
and they will continue to scat.

Duped

The kingdom grieved
a dream's demise
their hearts deceived
by bold faced lies,

a dream's demise
is brought about
by bold faced lies,
increasing doubt

is brought about
when scoundrels plot,
increasing doubt
and truth is shot;

when scoundrels plot
their hearts deceived
and truth is shot
the kingdom grieves.

Preservation

A porker was told by a doctor
for ailments he had endured
"It isn't your fault
take some sugar and salt
and in a few days you'll be cured."

Gritty

These carcasses of timber, tile and tin
lie rotting in the sun
where people once waited for their shift to begin
and flew when it was done,

the wood is warped, the metal bent,
the bricks will soon be dust
like everything (that we invent
and living) surely must.

Kinship

I see a leaf tenaciously
just barely clinging to the tree
and sympathize from where I clasp
with that leaf tenaciously
refusing to give in like me
despite how tentative my grasp--
I see a leaf tenaciously
just barely clinging to the tree.

c[_]

We saunter (so smug)
our pride like a drug
held back by much more
than gravity's tug:

our manners are poor
and when we get sore
we haughtily shrug
then start a new war--

why cant we hug
or grab a cold mug
and down it before
we savagely slug?

Apogee

A pale, imperfect creature roams on high
an appaloosa galloping around
the vast expanse of blue we call the sky
so distant that it doesn't make a sound;
corralled so long ago it can't defy
the rope below that's limiting its range
for if you've worn the bridle overmuch
your calloused disposition isn't strange
in fact, you could become a bit removed
and shy away from any tender touch
until it seems the path you walk is grooved
just drifting through the shadows all alone
in search of some new phase - a life improved
instead of slowly turning into stone.

The Breaks

My innocence was shattered young
like crystal indiscreetly flung
against the wall and every shard
has left me just a bit more scarred
at first it really stung
but now those ancient welts are hard

and though at times it's tough to feel
I often touch each jagged weal
remembering the wonder lost
when painful logos were embossed
which taught me how to heal
regardless of the cost.

Promotion

The giant came calling (as humble as need)
and offered the minstrel a shot at the lead
but talks became heated (as words sometimes do)
which meant that the chance for advancement was through
until the performer (as seasoned vets will)
delivered a scene with remarkable skill
convincing the 'big guy' (as dense as a knob)
that he was the peon just right for the job.

Pivotal

Any given day
the status of my mood
could go either way

it's plausible to say
that I could beam or brood
any given day

depending on the fray
with those innately rude
it could go either way

I could peacefully stay
completely subdued
any given day

or finally display
my rage against the lewd
it could go either way

but luckily I may
feel fresh and renewed,
any given day
could go either way.

Scraps

Predation can seem filling
when you're the one who's killing
but not so satisfying
when you're the prey that's dying.

Compost

As biting autumn breezes brew
I see a plant with fronds of blue
is it cold too?

Then after an aggressive gust
I spot a tree with leaves of rust
that will be dust

but suddenly the winds abate
and breathlessly we all await
our common fate.

Glory Be

The creek is calm
beneath the balm
of autumn ray,
I have no qualm

with the world today
and think I'll say
a thankful psalm
ere things decay.

Amiss

It creepily crept
then suddenly leapt
directly in front of me!
Of course I stepped
upon the brakes ferociously
until I saw (quite happily)
that it was just a leaf
the wind had swept.

Checked Out

At the store I was forced to crouch down
to get rolls from the lowliest shelf,
a rip and a draft then a frown—
the only display was myself.

Swung

Beside that park
the trees are bare
the skies are dark
and no one's there
to play

within that park
the swings are still
but once their arc
made laughter spill
each sway

without that park
would we have shared
that summer lark
when I was snared
to stay.

Timber

Don't die like a tree
erect with every bony limb
exposed for all to see
or toppled by the wicked whim
of someone on a spree
or brutally bereft of form
by an unpredicted storm
that inundates the tufted lea.

No, seek a peaceful bower for your sleep
away from all the sheep
that love to peep
through every little bough
so they can know
when you go
or weep.

And maybe the moon
will ask you to spoon
as a fiddling cat saws with glee
upon the taut strings
and nervously sings
but don't ever die like a tree.

Radiant

As stars that gild the night
a sun adorns my sky
unmercifully bright
without which I would die.

Fulfillment

to be loved is a serious duty
that is if you also care
but who could be cold to the beauty
of an unconditional stare?

no spark is more vital to kindle
and nothing's more precious to share
detachment is likely to dwindle
as doting replaces despair.

Dampened

The dreary drops descending
will deter the doleful crows
from endlessly extending
derision towards our woes

they can flap and flutter
but it doesn't stop the rain
that swirls into the gutter
with a gurgle of disdain

November is so dismal
when clouds accumulate
no gloom is more abysmal
no season more sedate.

Doing Requests

There's nothing more improbable I fear
than sympathy for humans when we whine
our mewlings never make it to an ear
intent on hearing whispers more divine,
so any sentence started with, "Why me?"
is something we'd best never even say
the only statements we should make (with glee)
are words of praise when we kneel down to pray.
The problem with religion is the fact
that people feel their faith deserves reward
like magic intervention on demand
to help negate the sinful way they act
when they should bow in honor to The Lord
and ask Him what may be His next command.

Unmoved

I watched a tiny tree today
that shed its leaves like emerald tears
and there was nothing I could say
to soothe its shaking limbs
or pacify its fears
that it must bow to natures whims.

I finally said, "Stand tall young tree,
you need not feel that you're alone
around you is a forest, see?
along with those that also lose
momentos of their own."
but it was wooden to the news.

Forward

I opened an email from my Mom today
and hit 'Reply'
I don't know why
it's been 5 years since I watched her die
but there were things I just had to say

I started with: I really really miss you
it's been so long
forget who's wrong
my love for you was always strong
despite whatever we went through,

My life is still the same I guess
I'm always broke
my job's a joke
and ever since that fatal smoke
it's simply been a maudlin mess

The time has come to move beyond
this silent blight
and expedite
your grand ascension to the light
though in my heart we'll always share a bond.

I'm certain now we both will mend
the pain will cease
as we release
the guilt that interferes with peace
and then I clicked 'Send'.