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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~