The New Apartment
She’s gone now,
And all he has to
Look at is himself.
Wandering around
The new apartment,
Bumping into things.
No amount of anything
Makes it go away,
That voice.
He mutters something
To himself about
Being right.
Just Better
From the depths
Of her being,
She believes that
She and her family,
And a few people who
Are very similar to her,
Are superior,
Having been told this
Since she was a child
By those closest to her.
In her mind,
There’s really no question
To be debated,
Some people are just
Better than others,
Beginning with their genes.
This Kingdom
He says goodbye
For the last time,
Swallowing the anguish,
As he was taught to do.
Too many farewells,
A scarcity of hellos,
Don the sadness-quelling
Stifling suit of armor.
A feeling too many
For this kingdom,
Such things are
Not welcome.
Dependable
Always eager to help,
They see him coming and
Exploit the situation,
Using his largesse to
Benefit themselves without
Returning the favor,
Taking but not giving,
Not even a thank you,
Just repeated demands,
Viewing him as someone
Who can be stepped on
With no repercussions and
Dependable benefits.
Authority
He has the authority
To protect people,
It’s his job,
He chooses instead to
Intimidate and terrorize,
A monster working out
Unresolved personal issues on others,
A deep lack of inner security
Manifested in outward bullying,
Craving power and control,
Repaying those who originally
Eviscerated him,
Abusing with impunity.
Next Month
No stranger to failure,
He optimistically
Starts a new project.
This will be the one,
He says to himself,
Dreaming of success.
In the other room
His wife opens yet
Another envelope.
This month it’s the
Electricity that
May be shut off.
Next month it
Could very well
Be a divorce.
Mentality
Having had the optimism
Flogged out of him,
He subconsciously gravitates
Toward the first thing that
Promises order and comfort,
Something he’s never had
Nor currently enjoys.
Pretending to feel better inside,
His actions direcly contradict
Blank pronouncements on
Virtue and character,
None of which exist
In his constricted mentality.
Do Nothing
Willing to let
Sick people,
Children,
Senior citizens,
Anyone who is not them,
Die,
Because they’re too afraid of
Losing power.
Nonchalant cruelty
Delivered with a
Hypocritical smile.
We can’t do anything about that,
Or that,
So we might as well
Do nothing.