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?
A lovely quiet neighborhood,
Peaceful homes tidily arranged
Around a park. Birds sing,
Bunnies frolic on the grass,
Children giggle, flowers bloom,
Trees whisper, neighbors smile,
The sunshine warms everything
It touches, cheerful relaxing days.
Kindness has not visited one home
In a long while. A stern, agitated,
Vigilant, halting settler, inner voices
Barely contained. Imposing angry
Noises on the calm as was done in
His childhood homes. He couldn’t
Wait to leave, now he pays homage.
Neighbors warily pretend not to notice.
Rage, rage against those who
Don’t threaten you in the least
Except for in fabricated tales
Of conspiracy and apocalypse.
Woe the ills of the world while
Championing those who guarantee
Their perpetuation. Pray for better
Days without committing to them.
Rouse all who will listen.
All is not well. Change is
Desperately needed, as long
As it’s someone else.
He was dissatisfied with his life and
Let everyone know about it.
A pummeling stream of invectives and
Vituperation aimed at anything or
Anyone in the vicinity.
Relentless exasperation and acrimony.
Dumping a full can of summer garbage on
Anyone unfortunate enough to inquire about
His day. A steady slow-motion fall onto
A mattress of rocks and glass shards.
Having a great day, everything
Falling into place and then something
Happens to make it all go terribly
Awry. Pulse quickens, anger simmers,
Why now? Why Me?
Working myself into a steaming froth,
Begrudgingly shifting my actions to
Address the inopportune interloper,
Callous interrupter.
A continent away, the same event
Attempts to besmirch another’s routine.
She calmly accepts it and invites it to stay
As a welcome friend who adds spice to the day.
A visiting teacher.
Fuse rage and insecurity and
Project it on those who would
Make your life better. Deny reason
At all costs and incinerate fact.
Smoldering emotional rubble pile,
Blaming those who would help
You heal, show you mercy,
Invite you to love.
Work yourself up into a frenzied
State of outrage where everything is
Far more horrid than mundane reality.
Keep boiling until a fine froth forms around
Your mouth. Continue agitating and stirring
The overflowing pot. Spout senseless sounds.
Rage until there is no other option than to
Examine yourself and let in the light.
I call for some help and
Receive a compulsory
Labyrinthine tour through
Rooms I do not wish to visit,
Guided by an artificially polite
Personality promising to
Get me to my destination, and
Culminating with a regrettably
Commonplace, harrowing,
Discouraging push off the cliff
Into limbo. Should I wish to
Ride again, my host will
Cordially welcome me and
Usher me along to continue
Aging with the muzak.
