It’s hard to step out of your house
When all you’ve ever known is your
House and all you’ve ever been
Told about is your house.
There are monsters out there
Who want to destroy you. You were
Warned by those who consumed you
For control and meaning.
Laugh a dry, clipped, hard cackle
Born of circumstance and necessity.
Spew words that diminish and
Marginalize humanity.
Give just enough affection at infrequent
Intervals to leave the vulnerable
Wondering if they measure up.
Cast judgment on those who don’t
Meet arbitrary requirements
Exuding from chronic hurt.
Is there anything more frightening
Than a man with angry eyes
Walking toward you with intention?
Is there anything more frightening
Than a man with confused eyes
Talking long about nothing?
Is there anything more frightening
Than a man with heartless eyes
Imposing his convictions?
Lie to me,
I’m ready to accept what
You say as true.
See in me the weaknesses
You can exploit for your
Own advancement.
Lie to me,
I’m willing to suspend my
Disbelief because I never had
It in the first place and I’m
Not ready to deal with
The pain.
He worked hard and built up a
Profitable company that hired
Bright young college kids under
The pretense of providing a
Management job.
He worked them as hard as one could
Work people. Most didn’t survive but
The few who did were a good fit for the
Towel snapping and unempathic
Worldview required to hang on.
An old man opened one eye
And saw what was on that side.
He opened the other eye and
Saw what was on that side.
He opened both eyes and saw
The entire landscape.
He closed both eyes and
Saw everything else.
A gaggle of geese busily chattering about
Nothing in particular meets once a month in
The usual spot. They waddle around,
Exchange pleasantries, comment on each
Other’s feathers, talk about the weather,
Catch up on the latest gossip. A newcomer
Enters the room and is cordially preened and
Invited to stay. Announcements are read that
Are important to geese. Their new guest makes a
Comment that causes the group to stop what
It’s doing and consider taking flight. Too
Controversial for this gathering of fine fowl.
Deliberately moving away
From the abyss.
Conscious decisions
Leading joyfully forward.
A new day
Filled with promise.
Generations of pain
Stop at this very moment.
She tried to be morose but
Couldn’t come close.
She tried to be mean but
Felt unclean.
She tried to be herself and
Found her path.
