riding the hedge

you are wild and untamed

you are free and unconstrained

and yet in my arms you are docile 

and unresistant

a willing sacrifice 

you are over my head

you go against the grain

as i grab you by the throat

ice crystals catching in your fur

before i let you go

i am much disturbed 

i am much distressed

i do not want to hurt you

please 

please

please do not make me do this

in the box you go

in that cold and airless chamber

where your innocence is frozen 

while in between your paws

the velveteen rabbit rests

your comfort

your guiding psychopomp 

i close the chamber door

to frozen suffocation 

and then i walk away

while you leap and bound

across the frozen tundra

to the otherworld 

where you will wait for me

where you will share your secrets with me

when i cross the hedge 

Moving the Blue Wave on the Childless Cat Lady Express

My workday this past Friday (10/25/2025) was quite interesting. 

It started out filled with dread, as I found out the day before that Kamala was coming to Houston, and that her rally was to be held at the Shell Energy Stadium, which is also a train stop along the route where I operate a light rail train. 

I’ve operated a train during large events — Astros games, concerts, Astros victory parade, the Super Bowl, international soccer events, high profile conventions (like the NRA national gathering), etc — and every single one of those events was an extremely stressful work day (or night). (I still have PTSD from shuttling rabid fans going to the Astros victory parade in 2017.) So it was natural to be expect the same with the Kamala rally.

My shift started at 3:31AM, and I pulled my train out of the yard by 3:56AM. (Actually, it worked out to a bit earlier than that.) On my first westbound trip into downtown, I’m scheduled to stop at the EaDo Stadium Station platform (where the Shell Energy Stadium is located) at 4:25AM. Even before I approached the stadium, I could see a small handful of news cameras staked out at various points.

After the sky got light and event organizers finished setting up the barriers to create a channel for the rally goers to line up, I saw the first rally campers arrive. They were a small group that included a man in a motorized wheelchair, a woman carrying a camp chair, and a young girl. It was still at least 7 hours before the gates would open. With each east and westbound pass, the line gradually grew. Folks were sitting on the ground and in their camp chairs.

We were anticipating there to be a huge crowd at around noon. But there already was quite the line forming and spilling out on to the sidewalk that runs parallel to the train tracks, and going down the block. After another couple of round trips, the line was already starting to wrap around the block. And there were still hours left before the gates would open.

As I was having my lunch break between 10:02AM and 11:14AM, I was listening to the radio chatter. There were already instructions to “reduce your speed, increase your audibles.” So be the time I relieved the operator, whose train I was supposed to take over, I asked him, “How bad is it?” And he replied that it wasn’t bad at all, but that you had to be extra careful going eastbound, as that was the track that ran parallel to the sidewalk where the crowds were lining up.

In the 9+ years I’ve been doing this job, this was the FIRST majorly event that I actually enjoyed doing! The traffic and crowd control was on point, and the crowd was extremely well behaved — certainly NOT like the idiot crowds that attend the sports and concert events and deliberately walk or drive in front of moving trains (thereby making what should be a 2-minute trip from one platform to the next into a 20-minute ordeal).

And the energy!!!!!

The energy was infectious!

Not only was this an extremely well behaved crowd, the folks were upbeat, positive, and joyful! Their energy and enthusiasm was infectious! And it certainly felt nice to be among people supporting a rational and sane candidate.

It was a real rush piloting my 55-ton steel beast at walking speed with the ding-dinger (the gong) ding-dinging, with the packed crowd on one side and on the other side the cops on horseback, law enforcement of different flavors on the ground, rail supervisors, and more rally goers trying to reach the crowd.

The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement!

I enjoyed interacting with the rally goers. Instead of my usual scowl or [not so] resting bitch face, I had a smile for everyone. When a fellow asked about tickets, I told him to “just get on to go to the Blue Wave.” He broke out into a broad smile. At the stop just before the rally site, while waiting for my single to upgrade, I opened my cab door, poked my head out, and said, “Welcome aboard the Childless Cat Lady Express!” The gales of laughter thrilled me to the core!

Many people were carrying signs. Some signs were simple, such as: “VETERANS FOR KAMALA.” Another was something to the effect: “AT LEAST WE’RE NOT A CULT.” And the one that made me laugh said: “GOD IS KEEPING TRUMP ALIVE SO THAT HE COULD LOSE TO A BLACK WOMAN.”

My biggest frustration was that I could not take photos, as having my cellphone out while operating is extremely verboten. So I had to take it all in with my eyes and use my words to paint the pictures of all that I could see and experience.

Because this was such an amazing crowd, if I had been asked to do an extra trip, I would have said “yes.” This event was an amazing and positive experience. And everything ran so smoothly that I was only 4 minutes late in making my relief. 

If I hadn’t been away from home since 2:20AM, and if I didn’t have hungry animals at home waiting to be fed, I would have considered going to the rally, as I heard it was awesome. But at least I got to play my part by shuttling the Kamala supports to the rally.

Cuckoo for Haiku 2 — The Next Thousand (still in progress)

  

1001

Turned the funeral
Into a flaming shit show
That’s all about her

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

1002

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

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

1148
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 

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

1150
They cannot sleep tight For they are vulnerable  Predators abound
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1151

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

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

1154
It’s a bit chilly No extra layers for me Gotta walk faster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1155

They are well behaved

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

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

1157

Abandoned puppies I wish I could stop caring They deserve better
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 

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

1166
Illustrated man Is carving up a doll head With his pocket knife 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1167

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 

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

1171
I stumble through math No elegant equations

With brute force methods

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

1172
Young robotic geeks Vying for championship  Whose machine will win
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1173

My bestie and I

Video chatted last night

For almost two hours

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

1174

Back to work I go

I feel sad to leave my dogs  All alone at home 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1175

Young man on a sign

He looks a lot like Jesus

Shopping at Walmart 

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

1176
My father exclaimed She’s washing her hair with shit No it’s just henna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1177

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

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

1183

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 

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

1188
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

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

1190
On the street corner The junkie and his dealer Transact their business
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1191
Addicted himself The dealer’s not better off Than his customers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1192
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 

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

1202
Vacation planning It’s more and more exciting  With each passing day 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1203
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

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

1205
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

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

1210
More rain on the way Another flood watch today I felt a raindrop

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

1211

There once was a time

Where I’d fall into outrage

Without asking why

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

1212

No other country Is as obsessed with their flag As America
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

1215
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

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

1219
The King of England  He raids his mother’s closet Searching for work clothes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1220

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

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

1228
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

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

1230
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 

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

1236
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

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

1238 Struck hard by a bus Her purse and lunch in the street She’s not coming home 

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

1239
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 

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

1244
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

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

1247 They take great offense When the laws give rights to all Not just only them  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Don’t trust those who mix Religion with politics A dangerous blend
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1255

Just two dogs and me
It is a perfect balance
They’re my family

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

1256

Composting decay

Enriching the earth with death

To support new life

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

1257
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

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

1261 With each heavy step Through tossed and broken pieces  I collect the shards
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1265
Il pleut dans mon coeur Larmes de cyanure pleurent Sur les fleurs du mal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1266
Soothing and rocking  A drowsy rainy morning He dozed on the train
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1267
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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1272
Sometimes people do The unthinkable when faced With tough decisions 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1273

Deluded Christian

Fascists refuse to accept

Jesus was not white

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

1274
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

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

1281
Just like my divorce I need to make plans and wait For the right moment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1282

Hipster douchebag mom And hipster douchebag daughter Visit speakeasies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1283 Talking on the phone I’m an H-Town Texas boy He says with a smile 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

1540

windbag braggart claimed 

that he could shoot somebody

and not lose voters

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

1541

upon their foreheads 

they wear the mark of the beast

a red maga hat

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

1542

at the precipice 

the bent shepherd stands and gloats

as his flock plummets

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