Into a flaming shit show
That’s all about her
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The one thing that she
Complained about more than me
Was how much it cost
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1003
It’s been since COVID
That she stopped taking showers
Uses wipes instead
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1004
She’s the new best friend
With absolutely no clue
Why the others left
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1005
I hope she stops soon
This shit talk and harassment
Has gotten tiresome
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1006
My Muse needs to rest
This last drama was too much
She needs to reboot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1007
It takes an effort
People can’t hide forever
Who they really are
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1008
Pieces of my life
Suddenly fell together
When my eyes opened
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1009
I allow nothing
To come me and my
Precious peace of mind
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1010
An unlikely pair
Glam girl and a sloppy bum
Can he afford her
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1011
Is all that I am
Just particulate matter
Clinging to raindrops
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1012
I’m dressed cowgirl style
A Spanish lady exclaimed
To me ¡que guapa!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1013
Green lights all the way
Traveling unimpeded
On straight and smooth roads
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1014
Spring is almost here
My heart sings with longer days
Darkness gets banished
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1015
My hoodie pouch stuffed
Giving me the bloated paunch
Of an old white man
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1016
The sun cannot rise
Until it is awakened
By morning bird songs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1017
The rooster’s asleep
And neglecting his duty
To wake up the sun
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1018
The weekend’s over
It’s back to humanity
At its ugliest
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1019
People I deal with
Are either very stupid
Or being ugly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1020
Each day I keep safe
Darwin Award candidates
From their stupid selves
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1021
Zombies are sleeping
Limp bodies frozen in time
On the train platform
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1022
Spring is almost here
Mexican primroses bloom
Along the sidewalks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1023
Getting the stink eye
From a glowering hermit
As he fouls his nest
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1024
It’s made from the piss
Of diabetic weasels
Bud Light is nasty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1025
If it is not good
Still write it down anyway
To stay in the flow
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1026
My Muse has a name
She whispered it in my mind
Somehow it suits her
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1027
Not just a windbag
She’s much more refined than that
While keeping it real
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1028
Come Election Day
I hope sanity prevails
Let there be reason
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1029
It’s disheartening
To see an incompetent
Elected to run
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1030
Monsters in our midst
And other scary humans
Mingle among us
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1031
Those who see the truth
Get their names sullied and smeared
And discredited
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1032
Nothing in the bank
Yet she has on her fingers
Quite the nice fortune
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1033
She wants attention
So I’ll give her a chapter
In my tell-all book
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1034
The lights are so bright
At the soccer stadium
They whitewash the sky
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1035
I’m away from home
For more than sixty-five hours
During the workweek
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1036
I wake up early
My mind is racing nonstop
Feeling overwhelmed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1037
Yo-yo weather
A string of hot days followed
By a string of cold
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1038
I could not resist
ADHD impulse buy
An eBay bargain
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1041
Daylight Savings Time
Made it very hard for me
To get enough sleep
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1042
He gave me the code
So I could let myself in
New level unlocked
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1043
She communicates
With ETs and aliens
They talk in her head
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1044
Wherever I am
Once it’s time to leave I will
Without looking back
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1045
He was very young
When he sucked his uncle’s dick
Cuz he was told to
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1046
He thought it was love
Didn’t know it was abuse
Or that he was raped
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1047
His uncle taught him
That there’s more to a penis
Than just making pee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1048
He slipped his fingers
Inside her tiny panties
She was only five
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1049
He tried to blame her
Said she was leading him on
But she’s only five
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1050
He cannot accept
That he’s a twisted pervert
Children serve his needs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1051
She is what she is
Incestuous pedophile
Preying on her son
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1052
Musette’s on a roll
Dictating to me haiku
About pedophiles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1053
Nothing is taboo
From killing tiny kittens
To fucking schoolboys
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1054
She is a hoarder
Who cannot even throw out
Her shit-filled diapers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1055
When I tell others
Of my sister’s craziness
They all are speechless
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1056
Hope she looks at him
With a dispassionate eye
Then she’ll remember
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1057
Never felt better
Ever since I decided
To go no contact
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1058
It’s the harshest truth
Everything I cherished
Was based on a lie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1059
Smear campaigns starting
If she cannot control me
Lies are the next choice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1060
The platform sitters
There’s nowhere they need to be
They just ride all day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1061
That’s absolutism
It’s either all or nothing
With no room to breathe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1062
Yellow kimonos
Lying on the garden bench
I woke up too soon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1063
Elusive meanings
Dreams of yellow kimonos
I could not try on
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1064
I do not reward
Any unsafe behavior
With a free train ride
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1065
Baby left the nest
Helicopter mom and dad
Hover close nearby
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1066
No hope for humans
Collective stupidity
Will get us all killed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1067
Showed me her tattoo
A little bit of whimsy
Mushrooms on her leg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1068
Our connection morphed
An emotional affair
His wife does not know
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1069
Dreams had fallen flat
Ambition gone up in smoke
Nothing left to lose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1070
Some of them just sit
Doing their best to kill time
Bothering no one
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1071
I talk in haiku
With each measured syllable
I communicate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1072
The package arrived
A faint whiff of cigar smoke
Clung to the contents
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1073
If he were cut loose
And all entanglements gone
I’d surely say yes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1074
I know that he sees
My encoded messages
And my secret thoughts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1075
It’s ok to dream
And for now I’m content
To be with my dogs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1076
I may hate my job
But I love my peace of mind
It’s worth ev’rything
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1077
Eagerly waiting
For my Asian tea shipment
I can taste it now
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1078
Eagerly I wait
For his email to arrive
We share a soul bond
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1079
Those three loaded words
Someday I will be able
To say l love you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1080
He cares for his wife
He will not abandon her
So we’ll have to wait
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1081
We share a deep bond
That burrows into our core
Spanning across time
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1082
The time is not yet
We enjoy the sweet tension
That comes with waiting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1083
Lone black dog trotting
Another lost throwaway
Looking for a home
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1084
My heart always breaks
When I see a homeless dog
It’s not the dog’s fault
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1085
A homeless couple
Had a cute little puppy
And now it is gone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1086
While she slept soundly
He strangled her lil puppy
Threw it in the ditch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1087
He is a weak man
Jealous of the attention
She gave her puppy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1088
First it was her dog
And what she does not know yet
Is she will be next
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1089
In my dream last night
The lil puppy had returned
And had grown bigger
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1090
I need to be careful
My iPhone can get cluttered
With the growing tabs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1091
It can get intense
Limerence is a wild ride
With an abrupt stop
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1092
I’m still sputtering
Over having to brake hard
And grinding my gears
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1093
Need to cool my jets
Take the throttle down a notch
And let things idle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1094
Flew so very high
I burned up re-entering
The earth’s atmosphere
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1095
It’s been a wild ride
Unexpected twists and turns
Smoother roads ahead
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1096
There is no static
There’s only intensity
That’s unrelenting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1097
Real time responses
Evolving and mutating
Churning deep waters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1098
Hidden dog whistles
Like buried treasure await
To be discovered
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1099
I’d rather stay home
To comfort my frightened dog
Who’s scared of thunder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1100
Picking through the trash
With not a cent to their name
They hope to find luck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1101
A nearly full moon
Reflecting in a puddle
That the dogs run through
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1102
Lunar reflections
Puddles in concentric rings
Broken up moonglade
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1103
Well before sunrise
Do some night photography
And write poetry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1104
Escaping a cult
That does human sacrifice
Weird strange dream last night
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1105
Even through the clouds
The full moon’s light shines brightly
Illumination
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1106
Forgotten verses
Spending the dark night outside
Cold and neglected
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1107
Trying to stay warm
With a soaking wet blanket
In January
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1108
Trash in nice gift wrap
Mofo in a G-Wagon
Flexes and namedrops
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1109
Cheap choking perfume
The stench of entitlement
Corrodes all respect
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1110
He fell in the trap
Sprung by some entitled scum
A guy lost his job
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1111
A revolving door
Another one bites the dust
Four more workers gone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1112
When each new day comes
I never know if that day
Will be my last day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1113
An obscured skyline
Brown smog over the city
Filtering sunlight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1114
It’s Opening Day
Baseball madness has begun
I just don’t get it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1115
People will people
Allowing their ugliness
To take over them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1116
Forked tongue Antichrist
Hawking his tainted Bibles
To the gullible
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1117
It’s not God who speaks
When they say God hates all fags
It’s projected hate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1118
God is on their lips
Hate dwells in their stony hearts
Hate is love to them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1119
Such a naughty dog
She heard other dogs barking
Ran across the street
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1120
Deep in the forest
The trail has gotten quite dark
I can’t see my feet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1121
Two trucks had arrived
My trail hike got cut too short
I did not feel safe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1122
In a foreign land
Hot cross buns bring him back home
Across the vast pond
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1123
The small things matter
Like a tiny taste of home
In a hostile land
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1124
When she is silent
I fear my Muse has left me
But she is still here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1125
With a less rich life
I’d have a much cleaner home
And a sterile soul
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1126
It’s sweet spot weather
Where I need neither heat nor
Air conditioning
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1127
My brain is too full
It is at capacity
There is no more room
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1128
Window can’t get clean
No windshield wiper fluid
Bird shit on the glass
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1129
My palate prefers
Agave distillations
Viva tequila
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1130
I taste the magic
Of the desert on my lips
Agave whispers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1131
Delusional fool
Believes an Only Fans girl
Has the hots for him
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1132
He’s an old fat slob
Looking for a nurse and purse
And bangmaid to boot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1133
He makes no effort
There’s nothing on his table
But he’ll eat from yours
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1134
The creative flow
Is plugged up by a log jam
Of sheer exhaustion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1135
Dogs are on the trail
Some random guy starts yelling
He’s freaked out by them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1136
It has been awhile
A sweet reunion with friends
The dogs are happy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1137
Religious fruitcakes
Are awaiting The Rapture
When the sun goes dark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1138
And yet once again
Science will prove them all wrong
And make fools of them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1139
Keep your religion
At home behind your closed doors
Where it can’t cause harm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1140
More harm has been done
In the name of religion
Than anything else
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1141
With humans in charge
Religion is a weapon
To oppress others
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1142
The superstitious
Fall victim to ignorance
And their religion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1143
What is true for some
Is not rightly true for me
Or someone else
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1144
Rapture came and went
No ascension to heaven
There is still traffic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1145
I opened the door
And in came a blast of moths
Like blowing snowflakes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1146
Where was Morpheus
I waited for him last night
But he stood me up
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1147
Vacation planning
Far more stressful than I thought
How do I relax
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I get no sleep I’m a diff’rent animal With claws and teeth bared
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1149
I now understand
A little bit more about
Sleep deprivation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They cannot sleep tight For they are vulnerable Predators abound
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two cats are sitting
In the middle of the road
Having a stare down
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1152
Freedom rides my train
While furtive cockroaches take
Long deep sips from it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1153
Motorized wheelchair
Trying to cross the trackway
Towing a large load
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s a bit chilly No extra layers for me Gotta walk faster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1155
Well for the most part they are
After all they’re dogs
1156
She can be spicy
Does not play well with others
Her circle is tight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1158
Why is there evil
Why can’t all human beings
Be compassionate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1159
8:30 AM
His cheap-ass bottle of wine
Already half gone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1160
It’s too much to bear The crushing humanity And its ugliness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1161
If folks were nicer To people and animals I would engage more
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1162
I am so relieved
The three puppies got scooped up
They’ll soon have new homes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1163
A barometer
Of my emotional state
Such is my haiku
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1164
I made a diff’rence
In the lives of three puppies
Who got abandoned
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1165
This is what I’ve learned
There is nothing like a dog
We need each other
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Illustrated man Is carving up a doll head With his pocket knife
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Texas Instruments
Reverse Polish Notation
For calculations
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1168
A paralysis
Borne of math anxiety
Numbers freeze my brain
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1169
Old college notebooks
Differential equations
That I once could do
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1170
I changed my major
All because of a cute boy
From art to physics
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I stumble through math No elegant equations
With brute force methods
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Young robotic geeks Vying for championship Whose machine will win
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1173
My bestie and I
Video chatted last night
For almost two hours
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1175
Young man on a sign
He looks a lot like Jesus
Shopping at Walmart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My father exclaimed She’s washing her hair with shit No it’s just henna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Illumination
By the light of the full moon
There is no dark night
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1178
Dark night of the soul
There’s an empty restlessness
An out of reach itch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1179
Alienation
Total disenfranchisement
Dark isolation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1180
A bleak existence
Tar pit of meaninglessness
Existential dread
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1181
A numbing routine
And mindless repetition
You don’t want this life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1182
Well before sunrise
Lone dude with a basketball
Is checking his phone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A rancid player
Who’s fifty shades of ratchet
Pouts when I say no
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1184
She’s all hips and butt
And she’s not at all even
A Kardashian
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1185
An unpaid day off
Is still a nice treat and break
From the daily grind
1186
Out the door and back
Gone for fourteen hours a day
Bone deep exhaustion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1187
Expectations dashed
Another disappointment
I’m back at square one
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Could sagging pants be An uncouth resurrection Of long hobble skirts
1189
How did that cute pup
Get stuck with two clowns like those
Borrachos on bikes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the street corner The junkie and his dealer Transact their business
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1191
Addicted himself The dealer’s not better off Than his customers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A brisk breeze blowing Clouds scudding across the moon Wild wind waltzing leaves
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1193
Subtropical spring
Where morning temperatures
Are mid seventies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1194
A windy morning
Thirty-five mile per hour gusts
The trees are talking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1195
Her son moved away
Her sister cut off all ties
She is abandoned
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1196
This abandonment
She had brought upon herself
As consequences
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1197
They will always bark
When approaching the same spot
Hidden lurking threat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1198
At last the time came
When all her flying monkeys
Had escaped her thrall
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1199
On her third last chance
Her Teflon coating cannot
Stay slick forever
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1200
A buck twenty-five
Yet folks still act offended
When they’re asked to pay
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1201
It’s the shitty folks
Who will get pissed off at you
When caught doing wrong
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vacation planning It’s more and more exciting With each passing day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Driving twelve hours straight Road noise echos in my ears In a cheap motel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1204
He taught only love
Othering was not His style
Something got twisted
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m mainly she/her Once in a very rare while I will be they/them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1206
I woke up feeling
A large cockroach scurrying
Across my forehead
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1207
Thin lunar sliver
May the waning moon swallow
All that is stagnant
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1208
Let the Dark Moon take
All that’s no longer useful
To make room for good
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1209
I’m sensing a shift
Skimming the near horizon
Making its approach
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More rain on the way Another flood watch today I felt a raindrop
There once was a time
Where I’d fall into outrage
Without asking why
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1213
It’s idolatry
To worship the conflation
Of the cross and flag
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1214
This land’s biggest threat
Is not those who follow Christ
It’s wolves cloaked as lambs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Folks looking for work Ride the train clutching papers With job leads on them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1216
No home to be had
He scavenges for paper
So that he can draw
1217
My dogs are at home While I have to be at work Can’t wait to see them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1218
I bleed a rainbow
Not for some identity
That’s just how I vibe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The King of England He raids his mother’s closet Searching for work clothes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The homeless will form Unlikely alliances To survive the streets
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1221
Today’s my birthday
Sixty-six years ‘round the sun
A wild ride so far
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1222
Under a heat dome
Hurricanes and tornadoes
Summer is starting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1223
Not in my lifetime
Will I see America
Be a kinder place
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1224
It’s a sick system
That does not know it’s rotting
That’s patriarchy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1225
I stopped in my tracks
To hear the cicadas sing
They are waking up
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1226
While in ATX
There’s a trajectory shift
That changes my course
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1227
She showed me her world
Master crafted high living
Homeless guardians
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love my two dogs My sweet canine companions A perfect balance
1229
They don’t know better
It’s not something exotic
It’s a way of life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What I wanted was To experience her world And be part of it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1231
Epigenetics
Conflict deescalation
That’s in women’s genes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1232
Men do not get it
Women don’t feel safe with them
They aren’t protectors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1233
The patriarchy
A very toxic poison
Humanity drinks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1234
Find other sources
Don’t drink from the poisoned well
That’s killing us all
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1235
I love my freedom
I enjoy my peace of mind
Team Bear all the way
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ink under my skin I am itching to get more Another tattoo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1237
A little lost dog
Found itself at my front door
Setting off my dogs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just under three hours Is fast for a coroner To arrive on scene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1240
I ask this question
How is the universe kind
Everyone dies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1241
Some deaths aren’t timely
They may come out of nowhere
With great violence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1242
Now that they are dead
It does not matter to them
That their kids are jerks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1243
Wish I could trade spots
With the gal ripping a bong
Behind the platform
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A rooster’s crowing Inserts syncopated beats In between owl hoots ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1245
Summer’s almost here
The preheating has begun
Four infernal months
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1246
They follow Jesus
Yet Jesus Christ would never
Condone their actions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1248
Friends with benefits
Rarely will a relationship
Result from that
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1249
Two old dudes strutting
They keep in step together
Their canes synchronized
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1250
The orange menace
An enemy of the state
Deceiving millions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1251
Their fear is misplaced
More lil children have been hurt
By them than drag queens
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1252
Demonized queer folk
Have far less blood on their hands
Than their accusers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1253
A nation of fools
Will choose the biggest buffoon
To be their leader
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1254
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1255
It is a perfect balance
They’re my family
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1256
Composting decay
Enriching the earth with death
To support new life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Existing alone For many that brings panic For me it brings peace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1258
He gets on the train
Absentmindedly leaving
All his bags behind
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1259
The train starts moving
He realizes his mistake
I hear him yell shit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1260
At the dark signal
Autos play Russian roulette
As they speed on through
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1262 My arms are loaded Torn basket of shattered glass I emerge from hell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1263
Memories on film Washed away by acid tears Burn holes in my soul
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1264
It rains in my heart Cyanide tears watering Flowers of evil
Il pleut dans mon coeur Larmes de cyanure pleurent Sur les fleurs du mal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soothing and rocking A drowsy rainy morning He dozed on the train
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hot Sunday morning Dogs panting in the back seat Going for a ride ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1268
Unsuspecting dogs Excited in the back seat Heading to be dumped
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1269
People don’t listen I said I would bring my dog They went out to eat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1270
Just because I can Think it does not mean that I Will ever do it ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1271 Mosquito netting And a pith helmet complete My safari look ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes people do The unthinkable when faced With tough decisions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1273
Deluded Christian
Fascists refuse to accept
Jesus was not white
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Austin my Austin Oh what terrible longing I possess for thee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1275
Logistics be damned Finances be damned as well I will find my way
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1276
When I first saw you
Ever since twenty-thirteen
You captured my heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1277
For over ten years
A quite deep and fierce yearning
Seeped into my bones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1278
Why can I not hold
In tight embrace in my arms
That for which I yearn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1279
Rasputin greets us
In a place that’s here nor there
With drinks on a tray
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1280
Houston can go suck
My metaphorical dick
I swear I won’t come
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just like my divorce I need to make plans and wait For the right moment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1282
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1284
Heed the stern warning
Mama’s rule DON’T fuck the dolls
They will fuck you back
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1285
Cicadas chanting
Loud treetop incantations
As the sun beats down
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1286
Sometimes talkative
Other times my Muse remains
Tight lipped and silent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1287
I cannot always
Coerce creativity
To flow on demand
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1288
A wrong way driver
Startles on his fast approach
On the railroad bridge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1289
Different faces
Of homelessness populate
The mean city streets
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1290
I now know their names
The Black gal and her red dog
Sondra and Bobo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1291
Why so many folks
With missing appendages
Could it be a trend
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1292
Unearned privilege
Rides the breeze like a balloon
Slowly deflating
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1293
Playing the system
And getting away with it
Like no one else could
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1294
Stay invisible
Flying under the radar
Unseen and unscathed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1295
I try not to long
Longing brings on more longing
Keeps the prize away
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1296
Nature is not fair
Society is not fair
And life is not fair
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1297
The train approaches
Dude does not even look up
While crossing its path
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1298
Less than twenty bucks
Is collected each day from
The ticket machines
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1299
Flowers have secrets
Whispering magnolias
Give ginger kisses
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1300
Independence Day
This country does not deserve
A birthday party
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1301
Tapped on her window
And threatened to shoot her in
The back of her head
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1302
Twisting his nipples
I immediately knew
That he was trouble
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1303
So many lawyers
Advertising on billboards
Cluttering the view
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1304
Good Christian driver
Cross hanging from his mirror
Drives like an asshole
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1305
He gets off the train
Tries to cross in front of it
As it moves forward
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1306
Car does not slow down
Rushes the intersection
As the train crosses
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1307
Not the guy I thought
He let his privilege show
I lost all respect
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1308
Those part of a group
Are easily blind to faults
Others clearly see
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1309
When one sees attacks
Where none have been intended
One needs to ask why
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1310
Triggers are useful
They point to where we need to
Focus on healing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1311
Look at religion
As an inkblot test that shows
What’s inside people
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1312
Dogs are much better
Friends and companions than
Mediocre men
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1313
Started editing
It’s a very scary task
So overwhelming
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1314
Hurricane season
We’re being hit by Beryl
The dogs are alone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1315
Four days no power
Put lipstick on in the dark
Get dressed by flashlight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1316
The wind took my words
Ripped them from my melting heart
Scattered them like leaves
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1317
Storm debris gathered
Life gets put back together
Words are uncovered
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1318
Wind blowing fiercely
Small tree keeps it together
Bending not breaking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1319
Fences had blown down
Liberating many dogs
Confined within them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1320
my naïveté
made me the perfect target
on dating apps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1321
online predators
desperate and lonely men
lying through their teeth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1322
i will not settle
for men whose bars are so low
they’re burning in hell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1323
we are the product
we’re bargain appliances
on the dating apps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1324
i count syllables
like an ADHD chimp
swings from word to word
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1325
getting nearly full
silver moon patiently waits
for werewolves to hunt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1326
there is no safe place
monsters real and imagined
hiding in plain sight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1327
consumed by my house
taking huge bites out of me
bleeding me bone dry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1328
his wife does not know
he’s talking to an old friend
he’s attracted to
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1329
sis is mistaken
to think that i will pick up
her burgeoning tab
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1330
we both got hit up
by careless needy spendthrifts
looking for bailouts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1331
the storm is brewing
a tempest in a teapot
swirling bitter dregs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1332
i’ve not much to hide
i’m an open book with some
redacted pages
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1333
instagram snitches
report back to her my words
she sends me screenshots
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1334
her flying monkeys
exist only to serve her
with blind allegiance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1335
one leak found and blocked
there could be unknown others
i’ll check my email
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1336
five months of silence
she emerged to provoke me
so predictable
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1337
recruited lackeys
can’t see the truth that took me
six decades to find
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1338
i am not upset
my muse is quite grateful for
the inspiration
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1339
thanks to her highness
for feeding my hungry muse
she is satisfied
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1340
passive aggression
that is how she rolls because
honesty’s too clean
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1341
he made it ugly
in the way that only he
could make it ugly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1342
his love is a lie
designed for entrapment and
manipulation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1343
she offered him help
but got the silent treatment
he wanted money
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1344
we both got hit up
with big demands for money
we gave them nothing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1345
alcoholic sis
has nothing better to do
than to stir up shit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1346
our shared dna
is not good enough reason
to pledge loyalty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1347
a far-off blank stare
is all her slurred words receive
when she lambasts me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1348
when her husband died
my eyes were ripped wide open
i saw what she was
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1349
won’t lift a finger
people exist to serve her
and do her bidding
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1351
the last crack is sealed
i’ve become invisible
to prying stalkers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1352
no more drops of tea
will reach her foul corrupt lips
let her die of thirst
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1353
now that i’ve gone dark
passive aggressive emails
no longer reach me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1354
promotions given
to baby mamas for their
service and silence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1355
cringey words spoken
while sergeant schultz looked away
who would believe her?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1356
he learned the hard way
that confiding in a snitch
would cost him his job
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1357
nobody likes her
she is not a good worker
yet she keeps her job
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1358
never in trouble
always missing in action
he works the system
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1359
it’s not just women
who get creepy vibes from him
men avoid him too
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1360
it did not feel right
when he asked to touch her hair
he’s her boss dammit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1361
while licking his lips
tells her he’ll make her forget
she’s a lesbian
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1362
she’s white chocolate
he calls her his favorite
did she step in shit?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1363
praising jesus and
inappropriate comments
come from the same lips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1364
me too means nothing
he will keep on preying on
two X chromosomes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1365
it’s his dark secret
he loves his daughter far more
than a father should
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1366
he does not like her
in fact he really hates her
but he’ll still fuck her
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1367
surreptitious sips
beer can in a paper bag
drunk by 8 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1368
they pick and choose their
causes like they pick and choose
their bible verses
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1369
butt hurt hypocrites
crying out when they get called
out on their bullshit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1370
allow me the right
to not have your religion
shoved hard in my face
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1372
ask them anything
exciting perspective and
omphaloskepsis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1373
all dreams possible
under the shroud of darkness
flow to fruition
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1374
as the young moon grows
it brings great realization
to my heartfelt dreams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1375
by my words uttered
by my will i thus decree
and so mote it be
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1376
too clumsy to grasp
my words mutate into dense
frozen metal spheres
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1377
tripping on something
brain chemistry is altered
through deep psychosis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1379
once human cargo
indentured to coyotes
she now hawks flowers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1380
a cute bungalow
in a hip part of austin
that’s one of my dreams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1381
do not yuck my yum
we each have different dreams
and aspirations
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1382
sweet agave dreams
sipping on tequila neat
soaking up the vibes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1383
day in and day out
i am part of the landscape
while i’m on the clock
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1384
she burns all bridges
and scorches the barren earth
she once tread upon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1385
neurodivergent
counts ev’rything on fingers
and measured out steps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1386
it’s masochistic
pain frustration agony
those damn dating apps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1387
not online dating
more like online pimping where
women are products
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1388
bone deep exhaustion
clenched in frozen inertia
i’m running on fumes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1389
less than a week left
until i’m on vacation
i intend to rest
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1390
toxic work culture
reactive not proactive
pawns set up to fail
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1391
curiosity
did it kill schrödinger’s cat
or resurrect it
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1392
try to imagine
a human society
that imitates bees
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1393
he is twenty-eight
he has been on the street since
he was seventeen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1394
he has no one here
mom is in choctaw and
dad’s drunk somewhere else
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1395
he has no way of
letting his family know
that he’s still alive
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1396
stolen sign in hand
blood pressure cuff on his arm
he tells me he’s stressed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1397
smudges on cardboard
a silent scream emerges
on the stolen sign
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1398
the street consumes him
bite by bite chewing up hope
spitting out despair
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1399
the end of the line
i wish him well as he leaves
i’ll see him again
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1400
when we meet again
perhaps i’ll ask him how he
wound up on the street
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1401
how will this unfold
stories waiting to be told
more words to behold
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1402
life speeding on by
trapped in an out-of-control
and runaway train
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1403
she wants to cheat death
and become more than human
she will die trying
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1404
a toxic childhood
sappy sentimentalists
spinning nostalgia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1405
off to a rough start
a dying car battery
generates panic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1406
rumination spins
methamphetamine monkeys
body slam my brain
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1407
it’s not a safe place
something bad happened here
the vibe still lingers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1408
weird dreams disturb me
wake me from a solid sleep
monkeys are released
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1409
in a dark grey room
ancient trees within four walls
are trapped and confined
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1410
morpheus returns
when valerian beckons
and invites him in
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1411
ghost on the train speaks
suicide’s not the way out
don’t follow my steps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1412
a tossed word salad
ketchup splashing on the walls
shit sticks where it’s flung
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1413
i need to take out
those monkeys with a dart gun
and tranquilize them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1414
maybe not all men
but ev’ryone was a man
who killed out of rage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1415
how do I know things
a snake whispers in my ear
and shares its secrets
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1416
i am living my
best life in austin texas
it’s a dream come true
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1417
the spell was broken
when the cobwebs blew away
limerence dissolved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1418
a bowl of gumbo
he could taste the animals
yes it was that fresh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1419
feral existence
abandoned lost forgotten
desamparados
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1420
illumined shadows
by embracing the darkness
i invite the light
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1421
which is easier
to wish for a million bucks
or wish someone gone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1422
i don’t want to be
stuck where i am stuck right now
focus needs to shift
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1423
neurodivergent
not ev’ryone’s tasse de thé
that suits me just fine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1424
correct homonyms
proper spelling and grammar
that’s my love language
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1425
say no to hookups
fuckboys a dime a dozen
porno sick wankers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1426
writing poetry
allows me to break the rules
that govern language
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1427
i do what i must
breaking the rules artfully
to tell my stories
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1428
empty nest dog mom
savoring sweet solitude
cocooned with my pups
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1429
if i were to write
a haiku dating profile
that haystack would burn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1430
a big distraction
in a very small package
kept me up all night
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1431
who would want to kiss
some creep’s mouth that looks like a
puckering asshole
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1432
major overwhelm
executive functioning
is shot straight to hell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1433
a stiff breeze blowing
pushing clouds across the sky
revealing bright stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1434
mars and jupiter
laugh with the seven sisters
while orion broods
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1435
uranus is shy
he blushes and hides behind
the seven sisters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1436
mercury peeks out
from under the covers while
venus still slumbers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1437
watch dog sirius
stands guard by orion’s side
ready to protect
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1438
store bought red roses
no intoxicating scent
to expand my soul
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1439
pretty to behold
sweet blue violets flavor
dainty confections
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1440
for sweet alchemy
accept no substitutions
real sugar works best
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1441
it’s just only me
there is no you in my life
i’m ok with that
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1442
he begged me to not
tell his best friend that he fucked
his best friend’s daughter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1443
as long as they thirst
for an oozing orifice
they will wet their dicks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1444
she is an old maid
with an infatuation
for her parish priest
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1445
she’s never been kissed
the perpetual old maid
had never orgasmed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1446
up in the choir loft
her loins are engulfed in flames
while the organ plays
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1447
for father she baked
a cake that he used for bait
to lure altar boys
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1448
father’s going down
does not hear the door open
and silently close
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1449
faith may be shaken
but never ever broken
she keeps his secrets
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1450
let me share with y’all
this tale of a church lady
and her parish priest
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1451
while still very young
he realized that his mother
was not a mother
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1452
in their sunday best
besotted church ladies fight
for father’s favors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1453
there was this one priest
who was the target of her
infatuation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1454
he did not return
her affection and besides
she was not his type
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1455
he was made bishop
sent to a far remote place
she wept while she prayed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1456
her dreams had been dashed
her desperate hunt now targets
parish men and boys
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1457
something about her
makes the menfolk uneasy
whenever she’s near
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1458
there’s only one man
who is unperturbed by her
she has what he needs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1459
a hungry jackal
he smells her desperation
his lust salivates
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1460
he’s an aging priest
who’s anxious to slake the thirst
of his aching groin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1461
there’s no need to see
the bulge under his cassock
to know his intent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1462
she would not have it
reported him to the church
let them deal with him
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1463
the church defrocked him
took away all his vestments
and then cut him loose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1464
disgraced by the church
he established his own church
in an old trailer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1465
wearing a cheap suit
the charlatan priest conducts
his sunday service
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1466
inbred swamp yankees
sacrifice their daughters and
wives for his blessing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1467
no chance of being
a sacred bride to a priest
she lowered her bar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1468
choices exhausted
she casts her net far out in
a polluted pond
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1469
a small time felon
who burglarized old ladies
caught her desp’rate eye
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1470
no speculation
romance was not plausible
no one was convinced
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1471
delusions indulged
gossip continues to flow
with each new rumor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1472
longing for something
a snitching flying monkey
is once more thwarted
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1473
she was abandoned
once she lost her usefulness
to a conning friend
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1474
yet she’s still too dense
to know the meaning of fuck
around and find out
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1475
it’s the same story
that repeats over again
with diff’rent players
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1476
our clients love dick
we do not give them the shaft
get dick for the win
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1447
from my comfy nest
i rule the vast universe
that thrives in my mind
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1448
any threat to my
peace of mind gets extinguished
immediately
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1449
at her interview
she did not notice she had
lipstick on her teeth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1450
looks like the pee hole
is not a she hole but it’s
instead a he hole
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1451
dangerous people
are allowed to ride because
they bring in money
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1452
instead of safety
for their workers and patrons
they choose the dollar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1453
they say they listen
but if that were really true
there’d be improvements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1454
read between the lines
that’s where the information
one seeks will be found
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1455
that which was not said
is often more important
than that which was said
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1456
when two towers fell
a stunned nation reeled in shock
the sky grew silent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1457
stuck in a time warp
of some bygone glory days
old age seeks escape
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1458
tricks on the sidewalk
self satisfied skater boy
grins broadly with glee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1459
you can see her eyes
black garment of oppression
hides ev’rything else
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1460
meaning is compressed
a distillation of words
savored in small sips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1461
three black cats rhyming
finding grace in a strange place
laughter and fist bumps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1462
when we reach our goal
achieving neutrality
there’ll be harmony
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1463
obscured perspectives
multiple layers of laws
often hide the truth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1464
i swear nowhere near
as much at home as i do
when i am at work
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1465
my mother would make
much fun of me when i sang
she silenced my voice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1466
she had me believe
i was not good at singing
and other such lies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1467
it took me decades
to unravel all the lies
that i was force fed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1468
old wounds uncovered
digging deeper to find more
my healing journey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1469
if one thing’s a lie
how can i be sure about
all the other things
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1470
always remember
lies never travel alone
question ev’rything
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1471
if there is one lie
there’ll be more from where it came
don’t get fooled again
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1472
i am not my job
it’s not my identity
it’s just a paycheck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1473
if i had known then
what i know right now i would
have left much sooner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1474
but i was blinded
by cognitive distortion
that kept me tethered
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1475
he said i could leave
but he threatened to fight me
for full custody
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1476
he held the chain tight
tail between a whipped dog’s legs
i choked on my heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1477
i knew in my heart
she would not be safe with him
i could not lose her
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1478
i did what i could
and sacrificed my freedom
kept her safe from him
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1479
it can stand alone
but it makes more sense to see
what’s on either side
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1480
because i feel peace
the decision i had made
was the right choice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1481
thought he was asleep
medical examiner
proved so otherwise
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1482
with a new kitten
energy is adjusted
to find a balance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1483
a peculiar dude
wearing shredded booty shorts
that expose his butt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1484
she got promoted
two times a baby mama
made it a cinch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1485
things have to get done
plans blown out of the water
when adventure calls
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1486
bright shining luna
steals attention for herself
upstaging the stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1487
orange jabroni
needs to choke on a cheeto
his passport to hell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1488
when i learned his name
i stopped calling him junkie
his name is cody
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1489
when most people sleep
i roam a world that no one
knows even exists
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1490
desolate wasteland
lost souls and their hollow husks
do not have mourners
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1491
she confessed to me
she was a student teacher
who fucked a student
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1492
it was easier
back then to get away with
such indiscretions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1493
she never got caught
beloved gifted teacher
camouflaged hunter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1494
many more followed
throughout her teaching career
young boys turned her on
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1495
between the two horns
of taurus jupiter rests
a brilliant gem
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1500
high above my head
jupiter’s my shining crown
between the bull’s horns
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1501
the stars don’t decide
they’re merely cosmic ripples
the force throws the stone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1502
the horns of the moon
the ancient goddess rises
some still remember
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1503
ancient timeless ones
the primitives called them gods
but they really weren’t
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1504
they were beyond gods
way beyond depth breadth and time
they were limitless
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1505
what is limitless
cannot be comprehended
by the limited
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1506
we can’t comprehend
what is beyond our senses
we can only feel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1507
the dangerous fools
are those who claim to know god
and god’s intentions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1508
bad played off as good
good presented as evil
fools cannot discern
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1509
thinning of the veils
the dead pass through to mingle
with cherished loved ones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1510
you’re wild and untamed
yet you’re docile in my arms
willing sacrifice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1511
you’re over my head
i’m going against the grain
grabbing by the throat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1512
i am much disturbed
i do not want to hurt you
don’t make me do this
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1513
in the box you go
a cold and airless chamber
frozen innocence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1514
in between your paws
rests the velveteen rabbit
guiding psychopomp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1515
i close the chamber
to freezing suffocation
and i walk away
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1516
while you leap and bound
across the frozen tundra
to the otherworld
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1517
where you’ll wait for me
and share your secrets with me
when i cross the hedge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1518
their dicks make them lie
weaponized incompetence
no woman wants them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1519
luck ran out on love
desperate passport bros hunt
bang maids overseas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1520
i am not surprised
at the blind stupidity
i’m just disgusted
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1521
aggressive cancer
threatening democracy
chemotherapy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1522
tiny little hands
chokehold on democracy
heil dictatorship
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1523
the orange führer
awaits his coronation
while putin dances
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1524
i would not feel bad
if he choked on a cheeto
let him burn in hell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1525
interesting times
coming at us at warp speed
strap yourselves in tight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1526
it bears repeating
going forward sometimes feels
like going backward
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1527
a bitter harvest
shall be reaped from the seeds sown
by america
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1528
it’s ok to grieve
it’s even ok to rage
but please don’t despair
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1529
always seek beauty
for if you cannot find it
they’ve already won
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1530
in times of darkness
despair’s their deadly weapon
always choose hope
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1531
soon enough the fools
will reap their bitter harvest
while blaming others
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1532
we can’t remain friends
cuz your choice has endangered
those i care about
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1533
privilege to choose
comes with my right to question
and dissociate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1534
choices made by fools
will come with consequences
that fools cannot grasp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1535
sucked into a cult
unreachable by reason
they choose a monster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1536
scary orange clown
and his sofa king sidekick
dance with no left feet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1537
grief can be profound
when friendships can’t be sustained
because of choices
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1538
the grooming starts with
psychopath men creating
god in their image
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1539
fools always choose fools
for fools do not know better
because they are fools
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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