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.