Rationality
Waiting on heightened alert,
Ready to spring into action in a
Millisecond against foes real and
Imagined.
Shadows appear where none exist,
Certainty eclipses rationality,
Bravado masks fear unattended and
Believed.
Short Free Verse Poems about the Human Condition
Thrive
Things being done
As they always have been,
Unchecked exploitation
Conceived when there were
No other considerations,
Decimating everything
For profit.
Growing movement,
Compassionate, resolute,
Rises from the ruins,
Understands we don’t have
To kill each other,
That we’re intelligent
Enough to thrive together.
Battle
It was clear from the very beginning
That something wasn’t quite right;
An insincere smile, a stare that
Lasted uncomfortably long.
Inevitably, inexorably, the tone changes.
Talons emerge, words more savage.
Spitting, hissing, leering, the battle for
Dominance commences.
Overconfidence brings its sister
Insecurity to the party. Unable to
Subdue the unease, they proceed to
Spread their discord.
Emanating
Though they’ll never
Admit it,
Cowardice hiding
Behind secrecy,
They don’t like him
Because he’s not like them,
He’s different,
Other, foreign.
They can’t fathom how someone
Historically subservient,
Though they won’t
Say it in public,
Can hold a position of
Authority above them.
Fetid waves of
Hysterical fear,
Weakness, prejudice,
Fuming at perceived
Loss of power,
A deeper impulse
Emanating from
Foul precedent.
The Loop
I’m in the loop.
I’m out of the loop.
I’m in the loop.
I’m out of the loop.
I want to stay in the loop.
I want to get out of the loop.
I’m becoming tired of the loop.
The loop is becoming heavy.
Keep me in the loop.
The loop knows best.
Many Hundreds
Many hundreds said no and
One said yes exuberantly.
Many hundreds missed the point and
One said yes knowingly.
Many hundreds stared blankly and
One said yes joyfully.
One said yes and I only heeded
The ones who said no.
A path travelled many times until
Yes revealed itself.
Release
No matter how much evidence or
Fact is involved, make sure to hang
On to flimsy defensive devices,
Ensuring perpetual paralysis.
Clear a wide swath of disconsolate
Despair. Never budge; even the
Slightest gesture a capitulation to
Those who would unmask you.
Outside your sphere of comprehension,
Compassionate eyes keep a vigil.
Awaiting awakening, earnest
Hope for insight and release.
Complete
He was mesmerized by the sound of
People cheering in adulation.
His hunger was satisfied by
Constant compliments. At the
End of the day, he looked online at
The throngs of admirers captivated by
His every movement and utterance.
Before he went to sleep, he watched
The television presenters inform the
World about his latest projects.
He turned off the light, alone with
Complete, desolate emptiness.
Something Unexpected
Something unexpected supervenes.
Interrupts the day, reorganizes
Carefully ordered schedule,
Rearranges blocks of time and
Expectation, elicits an outpouring of
Vituperative discontent.